MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Maria Lourdes Sereno, unseated as chief justice earlier this month, said that it is unfair for Solicitor General Jose Calida to attribute criticism over his ownership of a security agency with government contracts to his victory at the Supreme Court.
“It’s not fair. That is not true. You cannot be attacked if the attacks against you lack basis,” lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, a spokesperson of Sereno, said in a press conference.
Lacanilao was reacting to a remark by Calida earlier on Thursday on CNN’s "The Source" claiming critics “are angry with me that I won the quo warraanto, and ousted the chief justice.”
The solicitor general has been in the headlines because of his 60-percent stake in Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Inc. The agency has business with at least seven government offices, which has raised questions on conflicts of interest.
The solicitor general is the government's top lawyer. According to the OSG website, among the solicitor general's functions is to "investigate, initiate court action, or in any manner proceed against any person, corporation or firm for the enforcement of any contract, bond, guarantee, mortgage, pledge or other collateral executed in favor of the government."
READ: Calida says he is not backing down amid resignation calls
Calida parroted palace spokesperson Harry Roque’s defense of him. Roque said on Monday that the criticisms on Calida are “obviously” due to his victory at the Supreme Court.
The Palace spokesman added: “You already know why the attacks against Solgen Calida are coming out. It is because he won at his quo warranto petition. His enemies are getting back at him.”
But Lacanilao said in a mix of Filipino and English: “Let us not put those ill motives to those who are only defending the truth.”
Calida is currently facing a complaint at the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra also said that he will look into whether Vigilant’s contracts with Department of Justice violated the procurement law.
Minority senators have also filed a resolution urging the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization Committee to conduct a legislative hearing on Vigilant’s contracts.
President Rodrigo Duterte has defended Calida, a vocal supporter, for his security agency having government contracts. The president claimed that Calida is just lucky and that being in government service does not mean one cannot make money on the side.
READ: What we know so far: Vigilance on Calida's security agency