Trillanes: Investigation into Calida, security agency will continue
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday said that an investigation into Solicitor General Jose Calida’s stock ownership in a security agency with several contracts with government agencies will continue.
“Let me remind Mr. Calida that he is not a sacred cow. He does not have any immunity from any legislative inquiry,” said Trillanes in a statement.
The lawmaker added that Calida’s petition for a temporary restraining order against the legislative inquiry has no legal basis.
READ: Solgen asks SC to stop Senate probe into security agency
On August 14, Calida and his family—owners of Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Inc.—ran to the Supreme Court to seek a halt order against a Senate inquiry into the alleged conflict of interest in the solicitor general’s stock ownership of Vigilant. The security agency has multimillion-peso contracts with government agencies.
The Calida family named Trillanes as the respondent. They asked the SC to “permanently prohibit” the lawmaker from initiating an inquiry against his family “without legal authority from the Senate and law.”
The inquiry stemmed from Proposed Resolution No. 760, signed by Sens. Trillanes, Risa Hontiveros, Franklin Drilon, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Francis Pangilinan and Leila De Lima.
Calida, in his petition, said that the proposed inquiry does not serve a legislative purpose but will be conducted “to humiliate and carry out the personal and hostile agenda of the Respondent.”
In the run-up to the 2016 elections, Trillanes — and erstwhile political ally Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano — participated in committee hearings into allegations of corruption against Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family. The Binays said then that the hearings were motivated by politics and were meant as propaganda against the vice president.
Among the allegations tackled at those hearings has led to graft cases at the Sandiganbayan.
No date set for committee hearings
According to the Senate Legislative Information System, the resolution has been referred to the Committee on the Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (blue ribbon) and the Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, which Trillanes heads.
Sen. Richard Gordon, who heads the blue ribbon committee, said that he will not permit the humiliation of resource speakers and guests under his watch.
The Senate has yet to set a date for the legislative inquiry.
The SC en banc has ordered Trillanes to comment on Calida’s petition.
“Mark me, no matter where he hides, Mr. Calida’s corrupt practices will soon be exposed,” Trillanes said.
“The investigation will continue!” he added. — Kristine Joy Patag
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