Comelec chairman Andy Bautista speaks in a press briefing in Manila. INQUIRER / Grig Montegrande
Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista made the “right move” stepping down from his post amid the controversies surrounding him, Senate Minority leader Franklin Drilon said on Wednesday.
“I think that was the right move. Anyway he is no longer facing an impeachment complaint and therefore, it cannot be said that he is avoiding impeachment,” Drilon told reporters.
“It is the best thing that he can do so that after he quits office, he can take care of his problems. No one can say that he’s using the power of his office to influence the outcome of the case,” he said.
Earlier Wednesday, Bautista announced that he has tendered his resignation from Comelec effective Dec. 31, 2017.
In a letter addressed to his “Comelec family,” he wrote: “After much prayer and discernment, I believe that this is the right time to step down given the postponement of the Barangay and SK elections. This was not an easy decision, but my family, especially my children, need me now more than ever.”
Senate majority leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, meanwhile, said with Bautista’s resignation, the Senate and House of Representatives will be spared from another possible impeachment work.
“Kapag nag-resign siya, balewala na impeachment. Doon sa investigation, baka hindi na ma-concentrate sa kanya syempre di na siya public official eh,” Sotto said in an ambush interview.
(If he resigns, the impeachment will be for nothing. The investigation might not be able to concentrate on him especially since he won’t be a public official by then.)
“Siguro kung talagang magreresign siya, makakabawas sa trabaho ng Congress at Senado,” he added.
(If he really will resign, the Congress and the Senate will have one less thing to work on.)
The House of Representatives had earlier junked an impeachment complaint against Bautista over his alleged unexplained wealth. But after the one-year ban, a new impeachment complaint could l be filed against him.
In August, Sotto filed a resolution to investigate the alleged unexplained wealth of Bautista revealed by his estranged wife Patricia Bautista. Sotto specifically wanted to investigate Bautista’s alleged non-compliance with Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Bautista is facing accusations of amassing nearly P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth, as proved by his wife who made public his alleged passbooks and property documents.
He declared a net worth of P176.3 million in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). /je