‘Demolition job’, state of children distress Comelec chief

Comelec chairman Andres Bautista. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ Grig C. Montegrande

An emotional Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chief Andres “Andy” Bautista decried an alleged “demolition job” against him amid accusations by his own wife that he has questionable wealth.

“Let’s face it. There is a demolition job against me. Now, as to why I think that’s for people to judge. But I just hope people are going to be fair,” Bautista said over ABS-CBN News Channel’s “Headstart” on Wednesday.

Bautista also pointed out the he does not know whether his wife Patricia is being used against him.

“I don’t know anymore. I used to know her. She thinks differently. We see differently,” he said.

READ: Comelec chief says he has sued wife

‘Not fair’ to children

The Comelec chief turned emotional while he recounted his wife’s response about their children being dragged in the midst of their controversy.

“Tinanong ko siya anong mangyayari sa mga bata ‘pag ito nabulatlat sa mga tao (I asked her what would happen to our children once the public start prying) and she said, the universe will take care of them,” the poll chief said.

“’Yung aming isang anak hindi na pumapasok dahil dito (One of our kids is no longer going to school because of this),” Bautista tearfully said. “Is the universe taking care of them? It’s not fair to them.”

Bautista also belied his wife’s accusations that he was not supporting them financially.

READ: ‘I tried to save our marriage’—Comelec chief

“That’s a complete falsehood. She got money from me,” he added.

When asked about who was behind the alleged “demolition job,” Bautista said: “Alam n’yo mahirap na sabihin kung sino pero hindi naman tanga ang taong bayan. Hayaan na ang taong bayan na maghusga tungkol dyan.”

(You know, it’s difficult to pinpoint who’s behind it, but I don’t think the people are stupid. I will just let them make their own judgment on the matter.)

He added that, if it were only him, he would be willing to undergo an impeachment trial.

“If it’s just me, for sure I would. But impeachment process will bring in a lot of other people. I have to weigh these things. For now I can’t categorically answer it,” Bautista said. IDL