Joel Villanueva flags Cale88’s 2 employees despite P150-M revenue

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-Judge Joel Villanueva on Friday expressed alarm that Cale88 Foods Corp. supposedly has only two employees, despite reporting over P150 million in revenue and over P6 million in losses.

READ: Sara Duterte trial: Witness reveals CALE88, Gencorp balances, 2022-2025

Cale88 is among Vice President Sara Duterte’s business interests being tackled before the Senate impeachment court, particularly its links to her husband, Manases Carpio.

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During the 37th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, Villanueva cited Cale88’s general information sheet, which showed that only two employees were employed by the company in 2025—while no employees at all were listed in 2023 and 2024.

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“This is alarming, Your Honor. You’re looking at a company with P150 million sales, P6.13 million ang (in) losses, dalawa ‘yung empleyado (but it only has two employees)?” Villanueva exclaimed.

He then asked BIR chief of staff Anne Loraine Garcia-Marquez how it was possible for a company to do that with only two employees, especially on top of its alleged foreign transactions.

But Marquez herself responded that it would be impossible unless the company—which is declared as a manufacturer of banana chips—uses machines with only two employees.

“Parang impossible po unless naka-machine sila ng dalawang employee lang,” said Marquez.

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(That seems impossible, unless they’re using a machine and only have two employees.)

Villanueva, for his part, clarified that his question merely seeks a documented explanation and does not presume it as a “fictitious operation.”

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“I’m not saying or presuming this is a fictitious operation. Just alarming,” said Villanueva. /jpv