Comelec begins probe on ex-chief Bautista

Former Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started its investigation into the allegations against former chairperson Andres Bautista, who has been charged with bribery and money laundering before a United States court in connection with the 2016 elections.

Comele chair George Garcia said the investigating panel is waiting for the documents and other pieces of evidence, including against current employees.

“Sila na bahala mag-review at magpatawag ng mga tauhan natin kung kailangan at the same time, magbigay ng recommendation sa Commission (They are in charge of reviewing it and they would call in our personnel if needed and at the same time, give a recommendation to the Commission),” Garcia said in an interview on Monday.

“For sure, some are aware of it. Ang atin lang, ayaw natin masisi tayo na bakit walang kilos ang Comelec sa mga akusasyon na ganyan. Bakit wala man lang iniimbestigahan? Bakit wala man lang tinitingnan na papeles or ebidensya (My point is we don’t want to be blamed. Some may say the Comelec didn’t act on the accusations. Why was there no investigation? Why did we not check documents or evidence)?” Garcia added.

Garcia, however, said they will not summon former Comelec officials.

“Technically, retired na sila. Wala na sa Comelec (Technically, they are retired. They are not with the Comelec anymore),” he said.

Last week, the US Department of Justice reported that Bautista and two officials of poll technology firm Smartmatic, Roger Alejandro Pinate Martinez and Jorge Miguel Vasquez, were indicted for their parts in illegal transactions to retain and obtain business related to the 2016 national and local elections.

They were supposedly involved in the payment of at least USD1 million in bribes to Bautista between 2015 and 2018.

Smartmatic was the Comelec service provider for automated polls from 2010 to 2022.