MALACAÑANG on Saturday, June 2, expressed confidence that Solicitor General Jose Calida would air his side “in due course” on the Commission on Audit (COA) report that he received P7.46 million in excess allowances in 2017.
“I'm sure Solicitor General Calida will reply to the [COA observations] in due course,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.
The COA, in its 2017 report, flagged Calida for receiving a total of P8,376,360.28 in allowances, with P7,462,410.28 of which being considered as excess since it was over 50 percent of his annual salary.
Calida, who has an annual salary of P1,827,900, can only receive allowances not exceeding P913,950.
Republic Act (RA) 9417 or the Office of the Solicitor General Law allows Calida's office to receive honoraria and allowances. However, a COA circular limits the allowances to just 50 percent of the basic annual salary of a public official.
“The receipt of honoraria is not without limitations. COA Circular 85-25-E dated April 25,29185 was issued to clarify the payment of service and/or incentive fees, remuneration, honoraria and all other extra compensation paid to government officials and employees, which shall not exceed 50 percent of annual salary,” the COA said.
“Laws, rules and regulations need to be harmonized in their implementation. While RA No. 9417 granted authority to OSG lawyers to receive honorarium, COA Circular No. 85-25-E puts limitation in the receipt thereof,” it added.
The COA report also emphasized that the excessive allowances were not “properly monitored for taxation purposes,” thus recommended the refund of “the excess amount received and deposit” by Calida to his office's Trust Fund.
The latest controversy hounding Calida came amid calls for his resignation following his supposed 60 percent stock ownership of Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Inc., a firm owned by his family that has contracts with various government agencies.
A graft complaint was earlier filed againt Calida before the Office of the Ombudsman, but the government's top lawyer argued that there was no conflict of interest in the issue. (SunStar Philippines)