No conflict of interest in biz deal between gov’t and Calida family’s firm, says Palace

Malacañang stands with Solicitor General Jose Calida, saying that there is no conflict of interest when Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Inc.

(VISAI), a security firm where he is a shareholder, garnered multiple transactions from government agencies.

The 150 million pesos-worth of contracts bagged by the security firm is not unlawful since Calida’s office did not have a hand in approving these transactions, and “a mere stock ownership is not prohibited for as long as you declare it in your SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth),” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

He added that Calida must also have a position in the company for a conflict of interest to arise, but this is not the case since he stepped down as chairman and president when he took his seat as SolGen.

Roque said that these accusations thrown to Calida is surfacing at this time, since his quo warranto case was favored by the Supreme Court (SC) and brought down former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 5/28/18