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Duterte on Calida: Why should I fire him?
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday stood by Solicitor General Jose Calida, who is under fire over government contracts secured by his family's security agency.
Duterte made the remark as opposition lawmakers called on Calida to resign or for Duterte to remove the government's top lawyer amid allegations of conflict of interest.
"Matagal na 'yang security guard [agency] niya. Why should I fire him? He's good. Bakit wala na ba tayong katuwiran magnegosyo?" Duterte said in a speech following the condemnation of smuggled motorcycles and vehicles at the Port of Manila.
"As long as we do not participate [in the management of the company]...Why do you have to impute or attribute malice there?"
Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Inc. was reported to have secured contracts worth over P150 million with the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) from 2015 to 2018.
Malacañang had said it was not illegal for Calida to own shares of VISAI found to have bagged state contracts even if he is already in government.
The Palace also said conflict of interest would only come into play if Calida was the approving authority of the multi-million peso contracts.
