Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21) — The Senate will not require Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman and his estranged wife to attend a hearing on the chairman’s alleged unexplained wealth, for now at least.
Senator Francis Escudero told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Monday that the hearing on August 23, Wednesday on Comelec chairman Andres Bautista’s unexplained wealth will call on banking authorities and government agencies.
Escudero is chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions, and Currencies.
“Hindi ito [This is not an] annulment case. We’re only calling BSP, AMLAC, SEC, NBI, and Luzon Development Bank,” said Escudero.
He was referring to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLAC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Bautista was accused on August 5 by his wife Patricia of amassing unexplained wealth. Citing passbooks and other documents she retrieved from their home, she and her lawyers alleged his net worth is at P1.2 billion, contrary to his declared net worth of P176.3 million.
Related: Comelec Chair Andy Bautista files criminal cases against estranged wife
The chairman, who maintained his innocence, is also being investigated by the BIR and the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
However, Escudero added the committee is “open for anyone to attend whose name will be mentioned, including the [Comelec] Chairman.”
“I’m confident that should that time come, he would voluntarily do so because I’ve heard him (Bautista) speak on many occasions… [saying] that he would be more than willing to face any probe, forum, defend his name. And I think we will get there,” said Escudero.
