Bautista willing to quit, denies hidden wealth

‘I feel like a rape victim’

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista yesterday expressed willingness to resign from his post amid allegations by his wife Patricia that he had unexplained wealth of almost P1 billion.

In a press conference, Bautista said he relayed to President Duterte in a meeting at Malacañang last Aug. 1 his readiness to resign if he should become a burden to the Comelec.

“I didn’t offer (to resign). I just said that I will not cling to this position and if he thinks I have to go, no problem with that. He said, ‘I am not asking you to resign. That is really your call,’ ” Bautista said, referring to the President.

Duterte was kind during the meeting and even offered advice from his own marriage experience, Bautista recalled.

At right, file photo shows Bautista with wife Patricia and mother-in-law Baby Cruz

His sister Susan, his mother-in-law Baby Cruz and stepfather-in-law Danny Vasquez accompanied him to the Palace.

Bautista vehemently denied his wife’s accusation that he has several properties and savings accounts that he did not declare in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN).

“This is a sad episode for our family, especially our children. Her allegations are all lies and I categorically deny all of them. It was my hope that we could still fix our marital problems or at least address them in a civil and decent manner,” he added.

He said his wife had allowed “herself to be used to serve the political agenda of some opportunistic people.”

“I am victim of betrayal here and it’s like I was raped in my own home. It is now clear she is motivated by greed and that she will stop at nothing 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 maintained.

Businessman Alvin Lim, the alleged third party in the couple’s breakup.

According to Bautista, his wife wanted to divorce him since 2013 because there was a third party involved on her part.

He, however, wanted to save their relationship because their children are still young.?Stolen documents 

He accused his wife of stealing cash, gift checks, ATM cards and other financial documents belonging to him and his family 10 months ago, “many of which her lawyers embellished, doctored or fabricated” and used to “extort and blackmail me.”

Bautista charged that in June, his wife had tried to “extort” some P620 million from him as a settlement for their divorce.

“It is apparent that she and her long-time lover concocted this extortion plan with guidance from ill-intentioned lawyers who thought they could threaten me into simply turning over hard-earned and legitimately acquired assets belonging to me and my family. They were wrong,” he added.

Bautista also gave assurance that he is willing to face any investigative body that will look into his wife’s allegations.