Massive support overwhelms wife of poll chief

Patricia Paz Bautista —LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer

The wife of beleaguered Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Andres Bautista turned emotional on Tuesday following the overflowing support she received while going through what she described as a “scary” ordeal against her husband.

READ: Wife says Comelec chief has unexplained wealth

“I was inundated by all the support from people I don’t know, people I haven’t seen in 25 years offering their help,” Patricia said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.

“At least for this moment I cannot allow this. I don’t know where it’s going to go. I have bodyguard, life is different. Right now I have to walk the talk. Yes, this is scary beyond what I probably know,” she added.

Patricia also expressed dismay over her family’s lack of support on her allegation of unexplained wealth against her husband.

“Even though I don’t have my family with me, I have all of these people. And at least for some moment I know I’m not alone. But please, you know I appeal to them also, these are going to be public documents… do not allow… they have to stop complaining about our life,” said Patricia.

The poll chief’s wife also pointed out that her expose was bigger than her “domestic squabble” with Bautista.

“This is much bigger than I am, much bigger than my domestic squabble and I know that,” said Patricia, referring to the repercussions, one of which is that her allegations would put a doubt on the results of the 2016 elections.

“I can’t say for sure that this belongs there. But all I know is that at this point in time, with what I have seen, I cannot allow, you have to make a conscious choice. We have to choose differently,” added Patricia. JPV