Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi in connection with alleged anomalies in the purchase of 7,500 sacks of rice worth P7.5 million in 2004. Maliksi, on October 5, 2004, issued a purchase request for the sacks of rice to be used to alleviate hunger among indigent families of different barangay (villages) in the province. In its decision, however, the Ombudsman agreed with Maliksi’s argument that the rice purchase qualified as an emergency purchase and was exempt from bidding requirements. In its August 16, 2016 ruling that was released just recently, the Court of Appeals affirmed the Ombudsman’s ruling. “These findings of the respondent Ombudsman are conclusive on this court, there being no showing that they were arbitrarily or capriciously made,” the CA said.

Source: Manila Times September 01, 2016 13:30 UTC