Comelec chair must be fully probed: Abella

August 7, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte does not tolerate corruption as Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista should be investigated for allegedly amassing up to P1 billion while in government, Malacanang said on Monday.

"The whole matter has to be fully investigated," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing when asked of the Palace's reaction on the allegation of Bautista's wife, Patricia Bautista, that his husband has amassed unexplained wealth of up to P1 billion.

Under the Constitution, Comelec officials, including the chairman, could be removed from the post through impeachment.

Asked if Malacanang would support an impeachment complaint against Bautista, Abella said, "the president’s stand is pretty clear regarding this matter that he will not tolerate corruption, even a whiff of it."

A newspaper report said Bautista's wife sought an audience with Duterte on July 26 to disclose what she learned about her husband's alleged ill-gotten wealth.

Abella said Duterte had a private meeting on July 26 but he did not know the person whom he talked with.

The Bautista couple has admitted that they have marital problem since 2013.

Before becoming the Comelec chair, Bautista was the head of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, a government agency tasked to go after the alleged ill-gotten wealth of late President Ferdinand Marcos, his family and cronies. Celerina Monte/DMS