Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said proof is needed to support allegations that Chinese funds flowed to the Duterte family, Inquirer.net reported on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The statement came as former senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged that a company linked to Vice President Sara Duterte's husband received P319 million from China, according to Philstar.com. Rappler also reported on the case of "Ang Hai Peng," described as a business partner of the Vice President, and questioned whether the name is fictitious.
Inquirer.net reported separately that prosecutors said bank and tax records could support Trillanes' claims against Sara Duterte. The Manila Times reported that Trillanes also criticized Senate President Francis Escudero over delays in the impeachment trial.
The allegations center on the Duterte family, which includes former president Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, the Vice President. The claims have not been substantiated in the reports summarized here, and the Defense Secretary's position is that documentation is required before the accusations can be treated as established.
What to watch next: whether prosecutors obtain and release the bank and tax records they say may back the allegations, and how the impeachment proceedings move forward.
