Bautista’s wife to explore other venues for allegations

MANILA, Philippines — The poll chief’s estranged wife Patricia “Tish” Bautista on Wednesday said she is still optimistic that her complaints against Commission on Elections Chair Juan Andres “Andy” Bautista would prosper.

Tish was reacting to House Committee on Justice’s decision to dismiss the impeachment case against Bautista for insufficiency in form.

“One year is a very long time,” Tish said in a recorded ambush interview after the impeachment deliberation.

“And I think that light can come in many different forms and many different venues for light to be shed into these matters so we will look for these venues as well,” she added.

With the impeachment of Andy junked, no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against him within a year. This is according to the one-year ban ruling stated in Section 3(5), Article XI of the Constitution.

Tish’s camp, however, remained steadfast in pursuing the corruption allegations against her husband.

Lawyer Lorna Kapunan, spokesperson of Tish cited that her client still has a standing case at the National Bureau of Investigation.

“We are optimistic that with all the document and verified evidence, the NBI will come up with a report,” Kapunan said referring to Andy’s case.

Bautista was accused of alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

The complaint was in connection with the poll chief’s alleged misdeclaration in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, which was raised by Tish early August.  

Bautista also allegedly failed to "promptly act" on preventing the data breach of the Comelec website.

Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption lawyer and former congressman Jacinto Paras and Ferdinand Topacio filed the impeachment case before the House of Representatives.