Maliksi withdraws SC plea

Suspended Cavite Gov. Erineo "Ayong" Maliksi asked the Supreme Court yesterday to allow him to withdraw the petition he filed last year questioning the six-month preventive suspension which the Office of the Ombudsman had imposed on him.

In a three-page manifestation, Maliksi, through his legal counsel, lawyer Antonio Bautista, sought the withdrawal of his petition seeking to nullify the April 3, 2006 ruling of the Court of Appeals’ first division junking his petition for certiorari.

Bautista said Maliksi decided to recall the petition "because he wants peace" and upon the recommendation of his lawyers.

Maliksi was finally suspended this week after the Ombudsman advised the Department of the Interior and Local Government that there was no longer any legal obstacle to the move.

Maliksi’s suspension stemmed from the administrative case filed against him by Vice Gov. Juanito Victor Remulla — now the acting governor — over the allegedly irregular purchase of P7.5 million worth of rice in 2004.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez lauded Maliksi for his decision, saying he showed that he is a gentleman-politician.

"We welcome this development and if that is the attitude of public officials, then there will be basic understanding. (He) is better than others who resort to sour-graping," he said.