Sen. Drilon frowns on Senate probe on Comelec chief Bautista ill-gotten wealth

“We must conduct an inquiry Otherwise, the results of the 2016 elections might have a cloud of doubt hanging over it, we need to know of indeed there is hidden wealth and if so, when and how was it amassed. “

This statement from Sen. Vicente “TITO” Sotto was opposed by Sen. Drilon saying that they should settle jurisdiction first.

Sen. Liberal Party Chairman and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon is against the suggestions of Majority Leader Sen. Sotto for a legislative inquiry on the corruption claims against Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista.

Drilon explained that the issue of jurisdiction should be settled first he also stated “I do not know if the blue ribbon (committee) should take recognition over that because it is a possible impeachment case and if the House of Representative decides that it is impeachable offense and brings to us the impeachment complaint, then we become juror or judges,” Drilon, in response to Majority Leader Vicente Sotto’s filing of a resolution seeking to have Bautista investigated by the said committee.

Sen. Franklin Drilon pointed out that what the Senate blue ribbon committee and impeachment court would investigate would just be the same.
“And what the Senate Blue Ribbon will investigate will be the same subject matter that the impeachment court will investigate. So before the Blue Ribbon takes jurisdiction, I will strongly suggest that this issue of jurisdiction be first tackled and decided.” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said.

Earlier on Monday, Sen. Vicente Sotto III filed Resolution No. 456 requesting the blue ribbon committee to probe the alleged unexplained wealth of Bautista, with regards to non compliance with Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Sotta said in a statement “The Commission on Elections, as a constitutional body, must not only be compliant with the laws ensuring honesty and integrity in the performance of government service, but also be above suspicion of any irregularity being the guardian of the Philippine electoral system,” Sotto said.

Mrs. Bautista claimed to have discovered nearly P1 billion in undeclared assets, including a condominium unit in San Francisco, California and this was not recorded on his official 2016 SALN. Bautista already denied all of his wife’s allegations; he said his wife was “motivated by greed”.

However, Chairman Bautista failed to explain his side on where did the alleged assets came from and why it was not recorded. NBI has already been ordered by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to investigate into the allegations of ill-gotten wealth against Bautista, a development welcomed by the Comelec chief himself.