Calida Company Bags P150M In Contracts From Gov’t Agencies Including DOJ
Calida Company has bagged about P150 million worth of contracts from different government agencies including the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The family-owned security company of Solicitor General Jose Calida earned the P150. 815 million worth of contracts from 6 government agencies since he became the top lawyer of the Philippine government.
Calida’s company, Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Incorporated successfully earned 10 government contracts between August 2016 and January 2018 including DOJ.
The Security Agency had won two of these contracts in 2017 amounting P12.4 million, which prepares the budget of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).
On July 14, 2016, Vigilant notified the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that Calida quit as the chairperson and president of the security firm effective June 30, 2016.
Milagros Calida replaced Jose as the firm’s president and chairperson while their son lawyer has been appointed as vice president and their daughter Michelle becomes the treasurer.
Here are the agencies that give 10 contracts to Calida’s firm:
- National
- Economic and Development Authority or NEDA (1 contract)Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation or Pagcor (3 contracts)
- National Anti-Poverty Commission or NAPC (1 contract)
- National Electrification Administration or NEA (1 contract)
- Department of Justice or DOJ (2 contracts)
- National Parks Development Committee or NPDC (2 contracts)
A complaint against Calida was filed for allegedly violating the Republic Act (RA) 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
However, Calida denied the graft charges filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman over the P150 million in deals bagged by his company and explained that the contracts were in line with RA 6713.
The top government lawyer explained that he did not violate the law because he already resigned as the firm’s president and chairman before he assumed office as solicitor general in 2016.
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