Former Special Envoy to China Jaime T. Cruz was identified during Day 28 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial as the same person whose name appeared in corporate records of several companies linked to Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio.
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo raised the matter while questioning Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawyer Gerardo Del Rosario about the JTC Group of Companies and its corporate records.
“Mr. Witness, itong JTC Group of Companies, ito po ba ang ibig sabihin po ng JTC is Jaime Tan Cruz?” Tulfo asked.
Del Rosario replied that the company’s Articles of Incorporation did not disclose that JTC stood for Jaime T. Cruz.
Private prosecutor Erwin Matib later confirmed that the Cruz named in the corporate records was the same former special envoy appointed during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Yes, Your Honor. Same name, same person,” Matib said.
Del Rosario said Cruz’s name appeared in the records of several firms, including City Hall King Chow Foods Corporation, Metro City Chow Foods Corporation, Great Jolly Times Food Corporation, Davao New Royal Taipan Foods Corporation, Davao Emerging Taipan Corporation and Davao Bounty Times Food Corporation.
The SEC witness earlier testified that Cruz was the top subscriber of Metro City Chow Foods Corporation with 1,997 shares, while Vice President Duterte held 500 shares.
