Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – There was a turn of events during the hearing with the Committee on Constitutional Commissions and Offices.
The confirmation of Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista and Commissioner Sheriff Abas was deferred on Wednesday (September 2) after Senator Juan Ponce Enrile questioned Bautista on allegations of missing votes during the 2013 elections.
Enrile questioned Bautista on a report submitted to him by Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Chair Henrietta De Villa on the 2013 elections.
Enrile said the case involved more than 18,400 precincts in the country of which the votes representing 12 million voters were not counted.
The senator said the case has never been released to the press and claimed that after the election, there were even reports of a breakdown of communication in the country and overseas.
Despite this, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said Bautista will continue to serve as the commission’s chairman.
Bautista assumed his position as COMELEC Chairman on May 4 of this year.
Bautista assured Enrile they will respond to the report.
Aside from the issue raised by Enrile, a joint sworn opposition by Jose Ozamiz and Lin Ilusorio Bildner was also filed versus the appointment of Bautista.
Ozamiz, one of the shareholders of Philcomsat Holdings Corporation (Philcomsat), claimed that Bautista cost Ozamiz a huge financial loss after the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) sequestered Philcomsat when Baustista was the PCGG chairman.
