Bautista may still be impeached, says Alvarez

MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment complaint against Commission on Elections Chief Andres Bautista may still proceed despite his announcement to step down from office, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said.

Alvarez said the House of Representatives can still reverse the decision of the justice committee this afternoon.

“[He will be spared] unless he said his resignation is effective immediately at this very hour, at this very week before we convene in the plenary,” Alvarez said.

According to the Article 9, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution, “a vote of at least one-third of all the Members of the House shall be necessary either to affirm a favorable resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the Committee, or override its contrary resolution.”

Bautista on Wednesday said he will tender his resignation by the end of the year.

In a letter addressed to the Comelec, Bautista said that it was the right time to step down following the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

"This was not an easy decision. But my family, especially my children, need me now more than ever," Bautista said in his letter.

READ: Andy Bautista quits Comelec post

Last week, the House justice committee approved the decision to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Bautista.

The panel on September 20 earlier dismissed the complaint because of what it deemed as defective verification.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and former congressman Jacinto Paras filed the impeachment complaint.

The case was based largely on the allegation of Bautista’s wife, Patricia or Tish, that the Comelec chief had amassed more than P1 billion in illegal assets. Bautista denied all the allegations.

READ: House thumbs down Bautista impeachment anew