No x-deal for resignation, Comelec chair says

MANILA, Philippines—Commission on Elections chairman Andy Bautista clarified that there has been no deal agreement for his resignation.

In a media forum following his resignation, Bautista denied that there was an “x-deal” when he tendered his resignation effective on the end of the year. “Walang x-deal o trade-off,” Bautista said.

On Wednesday morning, Bautista revealed a letter addressed to the employees of the Comelec signifying his resignation.

READ: Andy Bautista quits Comelec post

“This was not an easy decision. But my family, especially my children, need me now more than ever,” Bautista said.

An impeachment complaint against Bautista was filed by Volunteers against Crime and Corruption lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and former Congressman Jacinto Paras.

On September 20, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice dismissed the complaint citing defective verification.

Last week, the committee approved the decision to dismiss the complaint.

But House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said that the elections chair may still be booted out of his seat. “[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,” he added.

READ: Bautista may still be impeached, says Alvarez

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 said that he opted to delay the effectivity of his resignation to pave the way for a smooth transition to the next elections chair.

The complaint was based largely on the allegation of Bautista’s estranged wife, Patricia or Tish, that the elections chair had amassed more than P1 billion in illegal assets.

Bautista denied all allegations.