Newly-confirmed Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
PASAY CITY,, Philippines – Newly-confirmed Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he will check on the validity of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) dealings with the family-owned security firm of Solicitor General Jose Calida.
Guevarra, however, clarified that DOJ will only check the contracts with the Calida family’s Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Inc. worth P12 million, signed in 2016 when Calida was already appointed as Solicitor General.
“The DOJ will be open also to review ng mga (of) contracts, but only in so far as the DOJ contract is concerned. ..the contracts with DOJ na sort of mayroong (that seem to have a) question about the validity, then we’ll look into it,” Guevarra said.
During his confirmation hearing Wednesday, May 30, Guevarra was asked why he preferred not to investigate the Solicitor General over the million-peso contracts.
Guevarra said he presumed that there was no irregularity concerning the contracts. Nevertheless, he vowed to review the said transactions if “there is some violation of the procurement laws.”
On Wednesday, several senators filed a resolution to review Calida’s security agency’s government contracts.
Among those who called for investigation were Senators Risa Hontiveros, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes IV and Leila De Lima. The senators argued there was conflict of interest in Vigilant’s dealings with government agencies that reached to P150 million pesos.
For his part, Guevarra believes there was no conflict of interest in the said transactions.
“That’s for him to explain. From the point of view of the DOJ, ang conflict of interest ay kung halimbawa iyong bang bidder has any relation with anyone sa DOJ…like iyong sa BAC o Bids and Awards Committee of DOJ,” Guevarra said.
“That’s for him to explain. From the point of view of the DOJ, conflict of interest is when the bidder has any relation with anyone in the DOJ…like in the Bids and awards Committee.)
Amid the controversy, President Rodrigo Duterte maintained his confidence over Calida and said he is not firing the Solicitor General.
“Itong si Calida, matagal naman iyang security guard niya, noon pa iyan. Why should I fire him? He’s good. Bakit, wala na ba tayong katuwiran magnegosyo? As long as you do not participate, the fact that you have divested in the sense that you have retired,” the President said.
(Calida has had that security guard firm for a long time. Why should I fire him? He’s good. Don’t we have the right to engage in business anymore? As long as you do not participate, the fact that you have divested in the sense that you have retired.) – Mai Bermudez / Marje Pelayo
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