BY PETER J.G. TABINGO

INTERIOR Secretary Ronaldo Puno yesterday directed Irineo "Ayong" Maliksi to re-assume his post as governor of Cavite after the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed four administrative and graft charges against him for lack of merit.

MaIiksi was accused by Vice Gov. Juanito Victor Remulla of abuse of authority, misconduct and violation of RA 6713 for authorizing the purchase of 7,500 sacks of rice worth P7.5 million in 2004 without public bidding.

In a 23-page resolution, the anti-graft body held that Maliksi and contractor Carmencita Guinto were able to produce acknowledgement receipts signed by chairmen of recipient barangays.

The Ombudsman ruling noted that Maliksi approved the purchase in response to the request of assistance from the provincial office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The transaction was cleared beforehand by the provincial legal officer.

"The respondent Governor, who is not a lawyer, could not be expected to analyze, much less judge, the legal significance or import of an ‘emergency’ or ‘crisis and the like. Even assuming that the legal opinion is erroneous, respondent Governor could not be blamed for relying thereon in light of the exigency of the situation," the Ombudsman resolution said.

In addition, it said the transaction was actually in favor of the provincial government since the rice priced at P1,000 per sack was of high-grade variety. It said the prevailing market price was P1,200.

Puno directed Roberto Abejero, DILG regional director for Calabarzon, to tell Remulla to relinquish his post as acting governor.

The Ombudsman in clearing Maliksi also lifted its directive last Aug. 15, 2005 to suspend the governor over the administrative charges.

Last month Puno carried out the suspension order after the Ombudsman issued a memorandum reminding heads of departments to immediately implement its decisions and orders, and a letter stating that there was no more legal obstacle to the governor’s suspension.

In a separate memorandum, Puno informed Mayor Jose Catindig of Sta. Rosa, Laguna that he can reassume his functions effective Feb. 8, "without any legal impediment," after having served the period of his preventive suspension, which had been reduced by the Court of Appeals.

Catindig was suspended for six months last October by the Office of the President in connection with two administrative complaints but the CA reduced the suspension to four months.