Poll chief’s wife bares husband’s alleged corruption

Patricia Paz “Tish” Bautista, wife of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Andres “Andy” Bautista revealed more information regarding her husband’s alleged corrupt practices while in public office.

In a sworn statement submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation, Mrs.

Bautista said that his husband acquired commissions for referring companies, such as Smartmatic, Baseco and United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) to DivinaLaw, a law firm owned by his friend.

Mrs. Bautista added that his husband has more than a billion worth undeclared wealth in his 2016 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.

She believes that his husband violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Chairman Bautista headed Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in 2010 until he was appointed as Comelec chair in 2015.

PCGG, an agency created to repossess ill-gotten wealth of former president Ferdinand Marcos sequestered Baseco and UCPB.

Meanwhile, Smartmatic supplied vote counting machines to Comelec for the 2010, 2013, and 2016 elections.

In a phone interview with Inquirer, Bautista said that the money he received from DivinaLaw are not commissions but referral fees that didn’t involve the government.

He also accused his wife of fabricating documents and said that he will file suits against her.

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 08 / 08 / 17)