Palace: No conflict of interest in Calida security firm’s P150-M deals with gov’t

There is no conflict of interest in Solicitor General Jose Calida’s family-owned security firms bagging multi-million-peso deals with various government agencies, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque perused that Calida’s enemies were only getting back at him following his victory in the quo warranto petition against ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno before the Supreme Court.

“Kayo naman alam niyo naman kung bakit lumalabas yang mga pula diyan kay SolGen Calida nanalo kasi siya sa quo warranto niya,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing.

(You all know why criticisms are hurled against SolGen Calida, because he won in his quo warranto case.)

“Binabawian siya ng mga kalaban niya, yung mga nasaktan doon sa ruling ng quo warranto, obvious naman yan,” Roque added.

(His foes are getting back at him, those who got hurt with the quo warranto ruling.)

Early on Monday, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan urged Calida to resign following reports Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency, apparently owned by the Solicitor General’s family, bagged P150 million in contracts from various government agencies, including the Department of Justice, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and National Economic and Development Authority.

READ: Pangilinan wants Calida to resign

Roque said a mere stock ownership in a company is not covered by provisions under the Constitution and other laws.

“I think mere stock ownership is not prohibited for as long as you declare it in your SALN,” Roque said.

“And right now the situation for SolGen Calida he acknowledged that he has stock ownership but he’s not exercising any management powers in the company,” he added. /vvp