Senate panel compels Bautista to appear

A Senate panel on Tuesday issued a subpoena to compel former Commission on Elections Chair Andres Bautista to attend hearings on his alleged unexplained wealth and supposed violation of the antimoney laundering law.

Sen. Francis Escudero, chair of the committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies, suspended a hearing on Tuesday because of the absence of Bautista and his elder brother, Martin, who had also been invited by the committee.

Escudero, through the subpoena, warned Bautista that he would be held in contempt and ordered arrested if he continued ignoring the committee hearing. —Jocelyn R. Uy