PCGG probing Comelec’s Bautista, its former chair

August 11, 2017 - 2:31 PM
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Andres Bautista
Comelec chairman Andres Bautista. File Photo by EDD GUMBAN, Philstar

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Commission on Good Government is investigating Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista, who used to head the agency tasked with recovering assets plundered by the Marcos family, over allegations of ill-gotten wealth.

This was bared Friday by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II who said he has met the three PCGG commissioners — acting chairman Reynold Munsayac, Rey Bulay and John Agbayani — to discuss alleged ghost employees, so-called “referral” commissions and other possible violations by Bautista of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Aguirre added that the PCGG has also submitted documents on these issues.

The PCGG, which Bautista was appointed to chair 2010 until he was named to head the Comelec, is under the DOJ.

The Justice secretary acknowledged they were “still in the initial stage” and needed to study the matter, adding that he expects a progress report next week.

At the same time, he stressed that the PCGG has the authority to conduct its own investigations.