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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/business2/05/20/calida-052016.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc"><em>Photo from Calida&#x27;s facebook page</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte has picked former justice undersecretary Jose Calida, a former official during the Arroyo administration, as Solicitor General for the incoming administration.</p><p>Calida, who served as one of Duterte&#x27;s campaign managers, will replace incumbent Solicitor General Florin Hilbay.</p><p>Speaking to ANC, Calida said he was surprised about his appointment, saying he was outside his office when he received the news.</p><p>&quot;In his best judgment, he [Duterte] probably thought I will be the solicitor general that he prefers in his Cabinet,&quot; he said.</p><p>A former candidate for the position of Ombudsman in 2011 and a practicing lawyer since 1974, Calida said the work of a solicitor general is not easy &quot;but we can handle it.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Knowing our presumptive president, the marching order is to do your best and I will do it,&quot; he said.</p><figure class="op-social"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pJRwAl95E5Y" width="600"></iframe></figure><p>Asked to react to claims that the incoming administration is &quot;rehashing&quot; the Arroyo administration, he said: &quot;I am a lawyer and my loyalty is to the rule of law. It doesn&#x27;t matter who is the one who appointed me. When I become the solicitor general, I will take an oath to defend the Constitution and enforce the rule of law regardless of who the appointing authority is.&quot;</p><p>Calida, in a 2015 speech, described Duterte as &quot;a mayor who can make things happen.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Pundits call it &#x27;political will&#x27;. But in Davao, it&#x27;s no big deal. It&#x27;s just Mayor Duterte&#x27;s usual way of doing things. Hindi siya palpak,&quot; Calida told a gathering of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).</p><p>A <a href="http://www.philstar.com/headlines/231280/power-struggle-doj-palace-says-it%C2%92s-calida">Philippine Star</a> report earlier said Calida was part of a &quot;power struggle&quot; in the Department of Justice after he was named acting secretary of justice, and not Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez, under then Secretary Simeon Datumanong.</p><p>Calida was also the subject of a &quot;white paper&quot;, which questioned his act of reversing resolutions of the sitting secretary and assailed his large number of bodyguards.</p><p>Calida, however, said he needed bodyguards after the kidnapping of his wife.</p><p>He also said &quot;some people in the department&quot; who were envious of him were circulating the &quot;white paper&quot; to sully his reputation.</p>

MANILA - Presumed president Rodrigo Duterte has picked former justice undersecretary Jose Calida, a former official during the Arroyo administration, as Solicitor General for the incoming administration. 

Duterte picks Calida for SolGen post

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Duterte picks Calida for SolGen post

ABS-CBN News

Published May 20, 2016 04:44 PM PHT

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Updated May 21, 2016 09:54 AM PHT

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Jose calida

solicitor general

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