Case stems from allegations by official's estranged wife about ill-gotten wealth

  MANILA – An impeachment case was filed on Wednesday at the House of Representatives against beleaguered Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista based on accusations by his estranged wife Patricia Paz "Tish" Bautista that he allegedly amassed 1 billion pesos in ill-gotten wealth. Mr. Bautista declined to comment on the filing of the impeachment complaint as he explained that he has to read the complaint first before saying anything. He said he spent the whole day yesterday talking to the guidance counselors of his sons. "At this point, the welfare of my four sons takes precedence over all other concerns," he added. The 23-page impeachment case was filed by former congressman Jacinto Paras of Negros Oriental province and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio. It was endorsed by House Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia, Kabayan party-list Congressman Harry Roque and Congressman Abraham Tolentino of Cavite province. Under the House rules, an impeachment complaint filed against a government official will be endorsed to the House justice committee, which will declare by a majority vote if the case has substance, is sufficient in substance and in form, and has probable cause. If the requirements are met, the complaint is endorsed to the plenary where one-third of the House members will vote on it and if the number of votes is met, the case is forwarded to the Senate, which will hold an impeachment trial. In their complaint, Paras and Topacio accused Mr. Bautista of failing to disclose bank accounts, investments and properties in his 2016 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) wherein the Comelec chief declared 176.3 million pesos as net worth. However, Mrs. Bautista showed passbooks and other documents that showed he had more than the money under his name. Mr. Bautista was also accused of receiving referral fees from DivinaLaw, one of the Philippines' fast-rising law firms, for referring clients and failing to prevent a data breach that led to a leakage of private information of millions of Filipino voters. Mr. Bautista earlier denied amassing ill-gotten wealth and as for the referral fees, he said the monies were private funds. After filing the complaint, Paras told reporters that the feud involving the Bautistas "is beyond a domestic quarrel", adding: "It was fortunate that it was because of that (marital troubles) that we were able to find out that his accumulation of wealth is so mind-boggling up to the point when he became Comelec chair." Paras and Topacio said Mr. Bautista's failure to declare his real wealth is tantamount to betrayal of public trust, which is an impeachable offense while Mr. Bautista's admission of having received referral fees from DivinaLaw constitutes "indirect bribery". Congressman Roque said he was assured by Mrs. Bautista's lawyers that she will appear in the House to attest to her affidavit attached to the impeachment complaint. Meanwhile, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in a separate interview that that she repeatedly advised Mr. Bautista to go on leave for his sake and the Comelec. GAC/Expat 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