Thus said Cavite Gov. Ireneo "Ayong" Maliksi after the Court of Appeals’ fourth division granted his petition for a preliminary injunction last Tuesday for the six-month preventive suspension which the Office of the Ombudsman had imposed on him in an administrative case.
The preliminary injunction was granted on the last day of the 60-day temporary restraining order which the appellate court earlier granted Maliksi.
The petition stemmed from the case which Vice Gov. Johnvic Remulla filed against Maliksi for allegedly purchasing P7.5 million worth of rice without public bidding.
Maliksi holed up at the provincial Capitol when the suspension order was issued, guarded by his followers who had camped out on the premises.
"Now that there is a preliminary injunction issued by the Court of Appeals, we can now continue performing our assigned tasks peacefully," Maliksi said.
"This will serve as my inspiration to work harder in performing my duties as governor of Cavite for the interest and welfare of our people. I also invite Vice Gov. Remulla to partake in creating a peaceful, productive and progressive Cavite," Maliksi told The STAR.
Asked for comment, Remulla sent a text message, saying, "I disagree (with the issuance of the preliminary injunction). But I respect their (CA’s) decision."
Remulla said what the CA issued was just an injunction for Maliksi’s preventive suspension. "The investigation (still) continues," he said.
In a five-page resolution, the CA’s fourth division said it granted the preliminary injunction because the status quo must be maintained while Maliksi is questioning the Ombudsman’s decision.
The Ombudsman, however, opposed the issuance of the preliminary injunction, claiming that no court, except the Supreme Court, may issue an injunction to delay an investigation of the Ombudsman.