Calida on resign calls: Why should I? I can handle all attacks

Solicitor General Jose Calida on Thursday said he never considered quitting from his post amid the allegations thrown against him over the multi-million-peso government contracts secured by his family's security firm.

"No, why should I? I've been a lawyer since 1974, I can handle all attacks. The question is, 'Can they handle my counter-attack?'" Calida said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

Some opposition lawmakers have urged Calida to resign over the issue that the Calida family-owned Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency, Inc. (VISAI) had bagged multi-million peso deals with agencies such as the National Parks Development Committee, the National Economic Development Authority, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp between 2015 and 2018.

Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin said this was clearly a "violation of the anti-graft act because Calida has pecuniary interest involving multi-million government contracts."

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan also asked Calida to step down from office, saying there was "conflict of interest" in securing the government contracts.

Senator Risa Hontiveros has already challenged President Rodrigo Duterte to fire the government's top lawyer and file appropriate cases against him.

But, Duterte shrugged off the calls and even expressed support for Calida.

Calida remained firm that he did not commit any graft practices and that the accusations stemmed from his Supreme Court victory after the tribunal granted his quo warranto petition against ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

"Did I commit graft? No, I did not. They are angry with me because I won the quo warranto case and ousted their Chief Justice. Had I lost the case, they will not attack me like this," Calida said.

"I understand also where Senator Pangilinan comes from. He's the president of the Liberal Party and the one who viciously accused me in the Ombudsman admitted that she has no proof and admitted also that she's rooting for Atty. Sereno," he added.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has already promised to review the deals entered into by the VISAI. — Anna Felicia Bajo/MDM, GMA News