Poll commissioners urge Bautista go on leave or quit amid impeachment woes

MANILA, Philippines — Election commissioners on Thursday urged Commission on Elections chairman Juan Andres Bautista to take a leave or resign amid the controversies he is facing.

All six commissioners of the Comelec — Christian Robert Lim, Al Parreño, Luie Tito Guia, Arthur Lim, Rowena Guanzon, and Sheriff Abas — issued the statement before the members of the press.

The commissioners moved for Bautista to take a leave of absence or resign after a House hearing on the commission's P16.151-B proposed budget for 2018.

"The undersigned Comelec commissioners having at heart the best interest of the service and motivated by a deep sense of duty to our people are constrained to come out in the open to strongly and urgently urge Chair J. Andres D. Bautista to go on a leave of absence for such a period as may be necessary or resign, for his own sake, for the sake of his career, and — most importantly, for the sake of his family, particularly his four innocent children," the commissioners said in a statement that Lim read aloud.

Sr.Comm.Christian Lim read our statement urging Chair Bautista to file leave or resign pic.twitter.com/fC7ERsrgJS

— Rowena V. Guanzon (@commrguanzon) August 24, 2017

On Wednesday, Bautista failed to attend the Comelec budget briefing prompting the House committee on appropriations to reschedule it to Thursday.

Guanzon reiterated her advice to Bautista to go on leave as he faces corruption allegations and family controversy. She said the poll chief’s personal battles may affect the Comelec.

“I understand his personal predicament pero may mga priorities po tayo para sa bayan at sa Comelec,” Guanzon said.

Bautista is facing corruption allegations after his estranged wife, Patricia "Tisha" Cruz-Bautista, alleged that the poll chief amassed ill-gotten wealth which was not declared in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth. Patricia claimed Bautista has about P1-billion wealth but he only declared P176.3 million in his latest SALN.

Patricia’s allegation paved way to the filing of an impeachment complaint by former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras and Ferdinand Topacio, lawyer for the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption against the poll chief. They accused Chairman Bautista of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

Bautista, who has not read the impeachment complaint, said he is ready to face it at the right place and time.

The Comelec chairman also said he is considering taking a leave or resigning.

"'Yan ang ating nga tinitimbang kung ano ang susunod na hakbang at siyempre gusto nating protektahan, iyon nga —interest. Unang-una ng aking pamilya at interest din ng Comelec kung kaya't iyan ang ating pinag-aaralan, pinag-iisipan at pinagdarasalan," Andres said on taking a leave of absence in an earlier interview.