By Henry Empeño | October 11, 2026

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Fishermen’s groups in Zambales and Bataan have called on Vice President Sara Duterte to explain her silence over Chinese bullying at the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid reports of P319-million funds allegedly received from Chinese sources by Cale88, a company linked to her husband Manases Carpio.

In a press conference organized here Sunday morning, October 11, by the Atin Ito Coalition, leaders of the New Masinloc Fishermen Association, Subic Commercial Fishers Association, San Miguel Pundaquit Fisherfolk Association, Samahan ng Cabangaan-3 Fishermen’s Unity, and Mabayo Agri-Aqua Association described Cale88’s receipt of millions of pesos from China-linked sources as “deeply troubling.”

They said the transactions with Chinese-linked sources raise serious questions about Duterte’s silence in the face of Chinese harassment and violence against Filipino fishers in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Leonardo Cuaresma, president of the Masinloc fishers’ group and co-convenor of Atin Ito, commented that Cale88’s business deals smacked of betrayal and must be explained to the people.

“While we are being harassed, bullied, robbed of our last fish, and driven away by Chinese ships from our own seas, the Vice President and her husband reportedly received millions and millions from China. Isn’t this a betrayal? Doesn’t it need to be explained to the people?” Cuaresma said.

“Madam VP Sara, is it because of these millions that you have been silent amid the violence we suffer at the hands of China in the West Philippine Sea?” Cuaresma pointedly asked.

AMLC revelations

Local fisherfolk raised these concerns following revelations at Duterte’s impeachment trial that Cale88 Foods Corporation, a company linked to the Vice President’s husband, received remittances totaling P315.94 million from China and P3.39 million from Hong Kong between 2022 and 2025.

A group of small-scale fishermen earlier also staged a protest in Sta. Cruz, Zambales the day before and asked the same questions. Fisherfolk in the October 10 rally also stressed that Philippine sovereignty over the WPS is not negotiable and that WPS is not for sale.

Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura testified during the impeachment trial that banks flagged some of the 143 transactions involving Cale88 because they had “no underlying legal or trade obligation, purpose, or economic justification.”

The fisherfolk leaders questioned whether these allegations of fund transfers could help explain Duterte’s apparent silence on Chinese aggression in Philippine waters.

They urged Duterte and Carpio to explain the nature, source, and purpose of the reported China-linked transactions and address the glaring conflicts of interest. At the same time, they challenged the Vice President to condemn Chinese harassment in the WPS and affirm that the protection of Filipino fishers and national sovereignty.

“For us, the impeachment trial of the Vice President is not only about unexplained and ill-gotten wealth. This is about our livelihood, our safety, and our country’s sovereignty. We face the risks at sea, and we deserve leaders who will stand up for us, not multimillionaire traitors,” said Cuaresma.

The fisherfolk said that for every fishing boat driven away, for every Filipino fisherman intimidated, and for every day that they cannot fish, their livelihood and their family suffer.

“Amid all this suffering, we need to know where our leaders stand. China’s millions should not prevail over the right of Filipino fishermen to fish freely and safely in their own waters,” they concluded.

Congressional probe

Meanwhile, Zambales 1^st District Representative and House Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun said he would push to investigate the P319-million Chinese-linked funds received by Cale88 after receiving a manifesto from protesting fishermen in Sta. Cruz on Saturday.

Khonghun said the investigation should determine whether any foreign or private interests had compromised the country’s sovereignty and the rights of Filipino fishermen on the WPS.

Zambales 2^nd District Representative Doris Maniquiz, who was present during the protest, also said in an interview that she wanted to clarify the purpose of the Chinese funds.

“It should be explained. What is it for? I hope it’s not in exchange for Bajo de Masinloc because our coastal communities depend so much on it for their livelihood,” Maniquiz said. ▲

▼ COVER PHOTO: Fisherfolk leaders (L-R): Hilda Reyes (San Miguel Pundaquit Fisherfolk Association), Maureen Ignacio (Mabayo Agri-Aqua Association), Leonardo Cuaresma (New Masinloc Fishermen Association), Rosielyn Ragalado (Samahan ng Cabangaan-3 Fishermen’s Unity), Regino Renato Romero (Subic Hook and Line Fisherfolks Association), Fausto Alpay (Subic Commercial Fishers Association), and Atin Ito Co-Convenors Rafaela David and Fr. Edicio dela Torre call on Vice President Sara Duterte to explain the P319-million remittances to Cale88 by Chinese sources on October 11 at the Subic Bay Freeport (Atin Ito Coalition)