Maliksi reassumed his post as governor of the province yesterday after the Office of the Ombudsman had cleared him of a graft charge filed against him by Vice Gov. Jonvic Remulla.

The graft case stemmed from the purchase of rice worth R7.5 million in October, 2004. Remulla alleged that the transaction was irregular, but Maliksi had consistently denied it.

In a 23-page decision signed by Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez and issued last Feb. 7, but was released only yesterday, the anti-graft body had dismissed the criminal and administrative charges filed against Maliksi as well as private respondent Carmencita O. Guinto from whom the rice was purchased "for lack of merit."

Also, Gutierrez ordered the lifting of the preventive suspension that the Ombudsman had earlier imposed on Maliksi and directed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) "to restore the respondent (Maliksi) to his position as Governor of the Province of Cavite."

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno immediately issued a memorandum advising Maliksi to reassume his position, "considering that you are absolved of all the charges, and it is final, executory and unappealable."

The Ombudsman said that the complainant (Remulla) failed to prove that there was "ghost delivery" because "foregoing evidence more than sufficiently establishes that the rice purchased was indeed delivered to the intended beneficiaries."

Also, the Ombudsman rejected the claim that the rice is overpriced "since the price of the sacks of rice was clearly lower than the prevailing price in the local market and, therefore, there was no undue injury to the government."

Maliksi was accompanied to the capitol building yesterday by Manila Mayor Jose Atienza Jr., national president of the Liberal Party; Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya (1st district, Cavite); and Deputy Presidential Chief of Staff Manny de Castro.

He was overwhelmed by the warm welcome extended to him by mayors of Cavite’s 20 towns and three cities, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, provincial capitol officials and employees and thousands of his supporters who chanted "Ayong..Ayong..Ayong" while the governor was being led to the stage at the capitol plaza

Maliksi could not hold back his tears as he expressed his gratitude to the people who stood by his side and gave their unwavering support "as I was being falsely accused of wrongdoing by people whom I considered as friends and allies."

Vice Governor Remulla paid a visit to Maliksi immediately after the governor re-assumed his post. They gamely shook his hands as the young Remulla congratulated him for the dismissal of the graft case.

DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno yesterday ordered the immediate reinstatement of Governor Maliksi and Sta. Rosa City Mayor Jose Catindig in Laguna, who were both placed under suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the President, respectively, in connection with administrative charges filed against them.

Maliksi’s reinstatement is in compliance with a directive from the Office of the Ombudsman, which had dismissed the administrative and graft charges filed against the local official for lack of merit.

In a separate memorandum, Puno informed Catindig that he can reassume his functions as chief executive of the city effective Feb. 8, "without any legal impediment" after having served the total 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 that had been filed against him, but the Court of Appeals subsequently reduced the suspension period to four months. (with reports by Elena L. Aben and Jun Ramirez)