Patricia Bautista now under gov’t protection

Patricia Bautista is now under the government’s witness program. PHOTO/TECH TORRES

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has provided protection to Patricia “Tish” Bautista, the estranged wife of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II met with Mrs. Bautista on Friday at the DOJ  where she sought protection from the government.

Mrs. Bautista accused her husband of having almost P1 billion in illegally acquired wealth.

“The provisional admission of Mrs. Bautista into the WPP (Witness Protection Program) was made in consideration of her safety and security as a potential witness,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre said the protection given to Mrs. Bautista is different from the security provided to her by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The Justice Chief said Mrs. Bautista sought protection due to threats to her life.

“Her safety and security is her utmost concern,” Aguirre said. But he clarified that he has no details yet of the kind of threats she has been receiving.

Mrs. Bautista, when asked about the threats, however, refused to make a statement.

She also went to the NBI and met with the team tasked by Aguirre to conduct an investigation on the alleged hidden wealth of the Comelec Chief.

Aguirre said Mrs. Bautista will be asked to execute an affidavit and it will be subject to an evaluation to determine if she would be qualified to be fully accepted to the government’s WPP.