Sandigan junks graft vs ex-Cavite governor

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has dismissed a graft case filed against former Cavite governor Erineo Maliksi in connection with the purchase of parcels of land for the relocation of informal settlers who will be affected by the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) extension project.

In a resolution promulgated on Feb. 6, the anti-graft court said the Supreme Court has ruled that there was no probable to charge Maliksi and his co-accused with violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The court said Maliksi’s motion filed on Nov. 9 seeking to defer his arraignment has been rendered moot and academic by the high tribunal’s ruling issued on Sept. 26, 2018. 

Cleared along with Maliksi were former provincial accountant Doris Ensomo and private respondent Cynthia Montesclaros.

With the dismissal of the case, the Sandiganbayan ordered the release of the P30,000 bail bond that each of the accused posted for their provisional liberty.

The anti-graft court also lifted the hold order it issued against them.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on Feb. 2, 2018, the case stemmed from the provincial goverment’s payment of P26.5 million to Montesclaros and other private landowners in 2009 when Maliksi was governor.

The payment represented the landowners’ compen-sation, broker’s commission and taxes.

The amount was drawn from the P500 million granted by the Light Rail Transit Authority for the relocation and housing of about 2,000 informal settlers.

The ombudsman said the payment was excessive and “over and above” the contract price of P126 million for the purchase of the parcels of land.

The SC granted the petition for certiorari filed by Maliksi and Ensomo seeking to nullify an ombudsman’s resolution issued in 2017, which found probable cause to charge the accused with graft.