Career highlights and advocacies
Associate, Amoguis & Gumban Law Office, Davao City
Professor, Ateneo de Davao University College of Law Partner, Rama, Dureza Calida & Abarquez Law Firm, Davao City
Senior Associate, Santiago, Vidanes, Jorge Law Firm, Makati City
AVP for Legal and Head, Litigation Group, Security Bank, Makati City
Partner, Fabregas, Calida & Remollo Law Firm, Makati City
Co- founder and president of Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption
Co-founder and Secretary General, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption
Member, Prosecution Team of Estrada Impeachment Trial
Department of Justice Undersecretary
Appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, then Undersecretary Jose Calida was in charge of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Witness Protection, Security and Benefits Program, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, DOJ National Task Force on Terrorism and Internal Security, and DOJ Task Force on Financial Fraud and Money Laundering.
Executive Director of the Dangerous Drugs Board ( DDB)
In this capacity, Calida conceptualized and implemented the “Barkada Kontra Droga.” The DDB’s flagship project in drug prevention and control. It was a peer- based anti- drug advocacy program empowering the youth to become change agents in their school and community. He further implemented the “Lakbay Aral Kontra Droga” and “Lakbay Kontra Droga”, which were both aimed at heightening public awareness in the government’s antidrug policies and programs.
Return to private practice
Calida’s stellar career in private law practice spans three decades. Previously, he was the Senior Vice- President and General Counsel of Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. ( Coyiuto Group of Companies), Chairman and President of Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency, Inc., and General Counsel of Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agency Operators, Inc. Solicitor General of the Republic of the Philippines In July 2016, Calida was appointed the 48th Solicitor General by then newly elected President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. “THE problem with some politicians is they are quick to criticize but they don’t really know what quo warranto is. There’s a saying that ‘a little learning is a dangerous thing.’
“As I have said, there are two separate tracks [ in the case of Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno].
“Track 1, impeachment, presupposes that the appointee was qualified for the position and after he was appointed, he committed offenses, like culpable violation of the constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, treason and other crimes.
“So it is after he was appointed when he committed offenses. And there is no question as to the eligibility and the qualifications. In other words, the appointee complied with all of these things. So the proper remedy [in this scenario] is impeachment.
“But in another situation, a different track is quo warranto. Here, before the person is appointed—in others words, when he goes through the Judicial and Bar Council—in the judiciary, there are certain qualifications for eligibility that the hopeful or aspirant must possess.
“But if he does not possess all the qualifications, and he is appointed, we now question what authority do you have to hold your position when you did not actually comply with eligibility requirements beforehand.
“So in the pre-appointment—in this quo warranto— the aspirant failed to qualify. Dito naman sa impeachment, the aspirant qualified and he was appointed so this is post-appointment.
“Now they are saying, those who are hitting us, that this petition is unconstitutional but they are wrong because the constitution provides eligibility requirements and there is an important provision there in the constitution. There is a moral eligibility requirement and that pertains to the applicant—that he must have, aside from proven competence, integrity, probity and loyalty.
“How do you assess probity? Through another constitutional requirement that you should file SALNs, which is important because it shows that you are willing to disclose your wealth or any business interests and of course pay the right taxes.
“Now if you don’t submit your SALNs, at the time when—in the case of Sereno who received millions as consultant of the government in that Piatco case—your integrity is questionable. And that is one of the important qualifications under the constitution, and also supported by law.
“So where is the unconstitutionality of quo warranto now? The state has a right to oust the person who does not hold or who holds the office illegally. Now if people will understand that, they will not accuse us that this is a conspiracy.
“This is the proper remedy for attorney Sereno’s problem and I hope I made it clear.”