Sereno backer urges Calida to make public his SALNs

A private citizen who earlier filed a graft complaint against Solicitor General Jose Calida before the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday demanded copies of the government lawyer's statements of assets, liabilities and net worth since he took office in 2016.

Jocelyn Marie Acosta, an avowed supporter of ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, filed a two-page letter at the Office of the Solicitor General requesting Calida's SALNs for 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Acosta cited Calida's filing of the quo warranto petition that questioned the validity of Sereno's appointment in 2012 because she failed to submit the required SALNs.

The Supreme Court last week granted the petition, effectively booting out Sereno from the helm of the high tribunal.

"Being the architect of the quo warranto petition, you now have the burden of showing to the people that you have more integrity than the Chief Justice," Acosta said in her letter.

"We hereby file a demand for your SALNs for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 so the people may see that you have accurately declared your family's ownership of VISAI (Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency, Inc..), among other assets," she added.

Acosta said the demand was made, she said, pursuant to the Freedom of Information People's Manual, which was signed by Calida.

Citing a 2016 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Acosta alleged that the solicitor general owned 60 percent of VISAI, a security firm that services at least four government agencies—the National Economic Development Authority, the National Anti-Poverty Commission, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the National Parks Development Corporation.

Calida's family members owned the rest of the company, Acosta said.

"Your ownership of VISAI shows a clear conflict of interest," the letter said.

Calida's profile at the OSG website says he was "previously" the chairman and president of VISAI.

The issue of Calida's allegedly continuing ownership of the security agency also constituted a part of Acosta's complaint against the chief government lawyer's at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Section 9 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees states that a public official or employee should resign from his or her position in a private business and/or divest himself or herself of his shareholdings "when a conflict of interest arises."

"I think it's only right to demand integrity from him as he essentially raised himself as the poster boy for integrity with his pursuit of Sereno for alleged integrity issues," she told GMA News Online.

Acosta has also previously written Calida to request him to initiate quo warranto proceedings against Associate Justice Teresita de Castro. Her request was denied for lack of supporting evidence. —NB, GMA News