Sandiganbayan Second Division to handle graft case vs. Ayong Maliksi

The Sandiganbayan Second Division will handle the graft case against former Cavite Governor Erineo "Ayong" Maliksi in connection with the alleged anomalous procurement of medical supplies worth P2.5 million in 2002.

 

This, after the Sandiganbayan justices led by raffle committee chairman Associate Justice Oscar Herrera Jr. raffled off several cases including the one against Maliksi on Friday morning.

 

The Second Division justices who will handle Maliksi's case are Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos as chairman and Associate Justices Herrera and Maria Cristina Cornejo as members.

 

On Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman formally filed before anti-graft court the case against Maliksi.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by then Vice-Governor Juan Victor “Jonvic” Remulla. Remulla is incumbent Cavite governor.

 

Last week, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales announced that it found probable cause to indict Maliksi for allegedly allowing, during his incumbency as governor of Cavite, the purchase of P2.5 million worth of medicines and other medical supplies in 2002 without holding any public bidding.

 

According to the complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, Maliksi, while in the discharge of his official functions as governor of Cavite, “wilfully, unlawfully and criminally” gave unwarranted advantage or preference to the supplier, Allied Medical Laboratories Corporation, which was awarded the government contract “without public bidding and without proving that among the suppliers, its medicines cost the cheapest.”

 

The Ombudsman also pointed out that Maliksi failed to prove that the purchase and distribution of the medical supplies was a matter of emergency.

 

“No imminent danger to life and/or property that ought to have been prevented when the medicines were purchased in time for the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) National Convention in November 2002.  The distribution of the supplies during the BHW National Convention is not a project or activity that cannot be delayed without causing detriment to public service,” the complaint said.

 

The complaint said that it was only in February 2003 when the Cavite Provincial Government entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for the purchase of medicines under a P10 million grant.

 

The complaint said the first tranche of the grant, in the amount of P2.5 million, was released to the province of Cavite only on February 4, 2003, and yet, the purchase was allegedly made in November 2002 or three months prior to the release of the first tranche. — RSJ, GMA News