Calida resigned as COA chair, says Bersamin

Commission on Audit Chairperson Jose Calida has resigned from his post, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told reporters on Tuesday.

Bersamin said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had already accepted Calida's resignation.

"He tendered his resignation for many reasons but it's up to him to later explain to you or publish to you what were his reasons but we accepted that with regret and we commended him for his patriotism for serving for a short while," the Palace official said.

The COA earlier in the day said Calida's stint with the commission ended on Tuesday, October 4, because he was not reappointed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"Please be advised that the chairperson was one of the officials whose appointment was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments. Today, the President issued reappointment to 10 cabinet members, unfortunately, Chair Calida was not one of those reappointed," COA's Public Information Office said in an email in response to GMA News Online's query on whether Calida stepped down from his post due to health reasons as stated in earlier reports.

"The Commission (COA) will wait for the President’s appointment of a new Chair for COA. We hope we have cleared up the matter," the COA added.

Among those reappointed by the President were the following:

• Benjamin Diokno - Secretary of the Department of Finance
• Manuel Bonoan - Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways
• Alfredo Pascual - Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry
• Erwin Tulfo - Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development

ADVERTISEMENT

• Jaime Bautista - Secretary of the Department of Transportation
• Renato Solidum Jr. - Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology
• Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla - Secretary of the Department of Energy
• Susan Ople - Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers
• Arsenio Balisacan - Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority
• Jose Rizalino Acuzar - Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development  

The Commission on Appointments (CA) is the panel composed of lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate which evaluates and ultimately approves or rejects presidential appointees.

According to the CA website, an ad interim appointment ceases to be valid upon disapproval by the commission or, if not confirmed, until the next adjournment of Congress.

The Senate and House of Representatives adjourned their sessions on October 1 to give way to a month-long break.

House appropriations panel senior vice chairperson Stella Quimbo, the budget sponsor for COA's proposed P13.16-billion budget for 2023, said during the budget deliberations that Calida had been on medical leave since September 1.

Calida served as solicitor general during the administration of Marcos' predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. He also supported Marcos' candidacy for vice president in 2016. —KG/VBL, GMA News