(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, May 30, came to the defense of Solicitor General Jose Calida, who is being hounded by allegations of conflict of interest.
The allegations stem from his family’s Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Incorporated bagging contracts in at least four government agencies since he was appointed as SolGen in 2016.
“Matagal na yang security agency na iyan. Wala na ba tayong katuwiran sa negosyo? As long as we do not participate,” he said.
He added that Calida was “good.”
Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, both lawyers, defended Calida from the accusations.
Roque said Calida merely had “stock ownership” and did not exercise “management powers” in the company.
Guevarra noted that from a legal standpoint, an owner was treated differently from a mere stockholder.
He said a company, when it bids for contracts, takes on a life of its own.
According to Roque, the attacks against Calida stem from the Supreme Court’s nullification of Maria Lourdes Sereno’s appointment as Chief Justice.
The SC move stems from a quo warranto petition filed by Calida against her.
