MANILA, Philippines – A lawmaker and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday took steps to find out if there’s truth to claims made by Andres Bautista’s own wife that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) chief has nearly P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth.
Kabayan partylist Rep. Harry Roque wants the House of Representatives to look into the allegations against the poll chief thus he would file a resolution within the day calling for an inquiry into Bautista’s alleged unexplained wealth.
Patricia Paz Bautista is claiming that her husband has money in banks, condominiums, and interest and shares in companies established overseas that the poll chief allegedly did not declare in his 2016 SALN with a total estimated value of almost P1 billion.
But Bautista dismissed wife’s allegations,saying it had to do with politics and extortion.
“Matagal na po kaming may problemang mag-asawa na ngayon ay nababahiran ng pultika. Ito ay isang kaso ng pangingikil at panggigipit [My wife and I have a problem that has been going on for a long time that is now tainted with politics. This is a case of extortion and pressure],” the Comelec chief said.
READ RELATED STORY: ‘IT’S A CASE OF EXTORTION’ | Comelec chief denies wife’s claim he has close to P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth
Money from Smartmatic?
Roque said he personally saw vouchers last week indicating that Bautista had received money as commission from a law office. The money purportedly came from Smartmatic, the poll body’s automation contractor.
“May nakita akong vouchers at kasama doon sa vouchers ay lumalabas ang halagang natanggap niya galing sa Smartmatic [I saw vouchers and with the vouchers were the amount of money he received from Smartmatic],” he said in an interview.
“Madaming vouchers, lumalabas doon na nangungumisyon siya sa isang law office…isang hinahandle nito ay Smartmatic [There were a lot of vouchers, it appears that he was being paid commissions from a law office that is handling the case of Smartmatic],” Roque added.
Roque said the revelations about Bautista made by his wife were alarming because these could have implications on elections.
“Nakakatakot ‘yan. Kasi paano niya mapangangalagaan ang demokrasya kung sa pera nasisilaw siya [That is frightening. How can he protect democracy if he is being blinded by money]?,” he said.
“Ano ang assurance natin na hindi niya binenta ang demokrasya [What is our assurance that he is not selling justice]?,” the lawmaker added.
Also, DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on August 7 issued Department Order No. 517 instructing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) “to conduct an investigation and case build-up over the alleged failure to disclose pertinent information required in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN)” of Bautista “and such other matters contained in the affidavit of Mrs. Patricia Paz Bautista.”
In his directive, Aguirre also told NBI chief Dante Gierran “to submit a monthly report to the office of the undersigned on its current activities related to the implementation of this order.”