Jaime Tan Cruz, who was identified as an incorporator of the same businesses in which Vice President Sara Duterte declared holding shares, previously served as special envoy to China for trade and investments under her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Prosecution lawyer Erwin Matib confirmed this on Monday, the 28th day of Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, when asked by Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo.
‘Ito po bang si Jaime Tan Cruz is the same person na na-appoint ni dating Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte as special envoy to China for trade and investment?’ Tulfo asked.
(Is this Jaime Tan Cruz the same person appointed by former President Duterte as special envoy to China for trade and investment?)
‘Yes, they are the same person,’ private prosecutor Matib said.
Matib also confirmed that this is the same Jaime Tan Cruz who former President Duterte once offered to lead the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. as its chair, but Cruz refused.
Based on records by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC, Cruz was identified as an incorporator of the following companies linked to Duterte:
City Hall King Chow Foods Corp.
Metro City Chow Foods Corp.
Great Jolly Times Foods Corp.
Davao New Royal Taipan Foods Corp.
Davao Emerging Taipans Corp.
Davao Bounty Times Foods Corp.
JTC Group of Companies Philippines Inc.
The prosecution panel previously said that it may also summon Cruz himself as one of its witnesses in Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth before the Senate impeachment court.