Palace respects poll chief’s decision to quit

October 11, 2017

Malacanang said on Wednesday it respects the decision of Commission on Elections ( Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista to quit.

"We respect the decision of Chairman Andy Bautista. We wish him well," said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar in a text message to reporters.

In a separate statement, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo considered Bautista's resignation as an "honorable exit given the furor that erupted following the rupture of the marital bond" with his wife.

"That it came after the impeachment complaint has been dismissed by the House of Representatives stripped the resignation as an escape valve vis-a-vis the complaint filed against him," he said.

In the end, Panelo noted that Bautista's decision was "motivated by his desire to protect his children from the debilitating consequences arising from his family being in the vortex of an injurious public controversy."

"He evidently acted in the best interest of his family as well as the institution he heads," he added.

Bautista will remain Comelec chair until the end of this year.

His estranged wife Patricia accused Bautista of having ill-gotten wealth, which could reach to about P1 billion. Bautista denied the allegation. Celerina Monte/DMS