Comelec chief files criminal complaints vs estranged wife
In a television interview over ANC, Bautista said, “We filed a case for grave coercion, for qualified theft and robbery, and also for extortion which is in the form of grave threats and life threats.” Read more: There is a demolition job against me — Bautista Bautista took his oath before Associate Prosecutor David Michael Go and the investigating prosecutor assigned to the case will be known “sometime next week,” Dello said, quoting Villena. In an affidavit, Patricia had claimed that her husband accumulated ill-gotten wealth in 38 bank accounts and real estate properties here and abroad which were not in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth (SALN). Prior to that, she said she sought an audience and met with President Duterte. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has directed the NBI to conduct a probe on possible cases of money laundering and violations of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and other laws on the basis of Mrs. Bautista’s allegations. Mrs. Bautista claimed her husband, who was appointed Comelec chairman in May 2015, has money in banks, condominium units, and interests and shares in overseas companies worth about P1 billion which he did not declare in his 2016 SALN. Chairman Bautista declared a net worth of P176.3 million in his 2016 SALN. Chairman Bautista, who was chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) before his appointment to the Comelec, has denied his wife’s accusations and claimed that it was part of her attempt to extort from him P620 million in settlement. “It is now clear she is motivated by greed and that she will not stop to besmirch my reputation and that of my family for the purpose of financial gain, even to the extent of allowing herself to be used by certain people and groups to promote a political agenda designed to cast aspersions on me and the Comelec’s work in the 2016 elections,” he said in a statement posted in his Facebook account. He also said Patricia “stole cash, GCs, ATM cards, and other financial documents belonging to myself and my family, many of which her lawyers embellished, doctored, or fabricated.” Lawyer Lorna Kapunan, denied the allegations. Kapunan said robbery charges cannot be filed against her client since the house where she got the documents is a conjugal property. Bautista and his wife have two adjoining condominium units in Pacific Plaza Towers at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, reports said. Bautista, as head of a constitutional commission, the Comelec, is immune from lawsuit. He may only be removed from his post through impeachment, after which he may be face criminal charges. Bautista said he is willing to quit his post if the allegations against him are proven to be true. Leave of absence The minority bloc in the House of Representatives yesterday urged the Comelec chief to take a leave of absence to give investigating bodies a free hand. The opposition group headed by Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said “delicadeza” dictates that Bautista must prove his innocence by ensuring an unrestricted investigation. Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, together with Rep. John Bertiz of ACTS OFW party-list, Rep. Alfredo Garbin of Ako Bicol party-list, and Rep. Anthony Bravo of Coop-NATCCO agreed that the only way Bautista can prove his innocence is to allow probers free access to Comelec records and possible witnesses. Read more: House minority to Comelec chief: Take a leave NBI investigation Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to coordinate with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in the probe of the bank accounts of Bautista. “The opening of bank accounts is included in my directive to NBI,” he said in an interview. Aguirre said the Department of Justice (DOJ) has to pursue its investigation even if Chairman Bautista and his wife decide to settle their martial dispute. Aguirre said the NBI will also look into possible irregularities at the PCGG during the time of Bautista as alleged by his wife. (With a report from Ben Rosario) Read more: NBI, AMLC to scrutinize Bautista’s bank accounts
Wife of Chairman Bautista, who was chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) said
Comments
Post a Comment