Lawyer to file libel case against Bautista’s wife

MANILA, Philippines — The wife of Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista will face a libel complaint for tagging a law firm in the supposed ill-gotten wealth allegations against the poll body chief.

 

Lawyer Nilo Divina, managing partner at DivinaLaw and dean of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, confirmed that he will file a complaint against Patricia Paz Cruz-Bautista and those who helped her come up with her testimony.

 

“We will file an action for libel against Tisha Bautista and any and all persons who aided, abetted, assisted and conspired with her in weaving false stories against the firm,” Divina said in a statement.

 

READ: The story so far: Poll chief Andres Bautista and wife

 

In her sworn statement submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation, Patricia claimed that her husband received commissions from the law firm for referring companies such as Smartmatic, Baseco and the United Coconut Planters Bank.

 

“Based on the documents I found, Nilo issued several checks in Andy's name and that of his family members, as Andy's commission for assisting the law firm's clients with the Comelec.”

 

Divina “would not give [a] commission [or] some form of incentive to Andy if it wasn't for any favor or service that he had done for him,” she said.

 

READ: Poll chief Andres Bautista cries 'extortion' against wife

 

She added that there may be conflict of interest as Baseco and UCPB are companies sequestered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government, which was chaired by Bautista prior to his appointment to Comelec in 2015.

 

“As my lawyers advised me, the discoveries I made regarding Andy's finances, including the assets he owns under his name, could subject him to several criminal violations (ie anti-graft and corrupt practices, anti-money laundering act) and possibly for impeachment,” Patricia said.

 

Patricia also said Divina is a close friend of her husband for more than six to eight years now. She added that Divina is her eldest son Xavier’s godfather.

 

READ: Psychic bond draws wife to marriage ‘third party’

 

Smartmatic was the company that supplied the vote counting machines since the 2010 elections, including in 2016 when Bautista was the poll body chief.

 

Divina did not elaborate on his plans to file a complaint against Patricia. He also has yet to address the claims that she made in her affidavit.

 

READ: Duterte ‘hands off’ on Comelec chief's ‘unexplained wealth’ woe