Lawmaker Demands Accountability Over China-Linked Funds Amid Zambales Fishing Crisis

MANILA — Zambales Representative Doris Maniquiz has demanded clarification on the flow of P319 million in China-linked funds to CALE88 Foods Corp., a firm associated with the family of Vice President Sara Duterte's husband, amid deepening economic hardship for fishing communities in the province.

Maniquiz raised the issue as Zambales fishers continue to grapple with declining fish stocks and restricted access to Bajo de Masinloc, a traditional fishing ground whose sovereignty remains contested. The lawmaker argued that fishing families struggling to sustain their livelihoods deserve transparency regarding the remittances received by the company, which has connections to Manases Carpio, who is married to the Vice President.

The company's receipt of substantial funds originating from China has sparked scrutiny, particularly given the mounting pressure on local fishing operations and the broader tensions between Philippine and Chinese maritime interests in the region. Maniquiz's call for accountability underscores growing concerns over the relationship between business dealings involving high-profile political figures and the welfare of ordinary Filipinos dependent on marine resources.

The issue highlights the intersection of economic policy, corporate finance, and the livelihood crisis affecting thousands of fishing families in Zambales, a key fishing province in the Philippines' northwestern region.