Bautistas: adultery, national interest

“This is one domestic turbulence that shakes not only the Bautista household but the nation as well.” -- News Sense, “Bautista case: wife vs. husband,” Aug. 8, 2017

PRESIDENT Duterte thinks the quarrel between Patricia Paz CruzBautista and her estranged husband Andres Bautista, chairman of the Commission on Elections, is just a family quarrel. The president told him “to fix it.”

These are only some of the initiatives being undertaken to eventually reach full compliance with the law. But I also wish to encourage everyone, every person, every household, every institution to do their respective share in implementing the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law.

The heart of the ESWM Law is its inherent purpose towards a paradigm shift, a change to a low carbon, zero waste lifestyle. That is why segregation at source is among the main facets of the law because implementation must start in our own homes.

As the author of the law, I practice what I preach. In my home and in my office, I practice waste segregation and recycling. I do my own compost from food waste to fertilize my backyard vegetable gardens and I have my own rainwater collector, which I use to water plants. These are simple and inexpensive ways to live a sustainable lifestyle. All of us here can do the same.

I hope that in this Conference, we will get to hear more good practices so that we can encourage more people, communities and institutions to adopt the zero waste concept through inspiration and emulation.

It is said that a great movement may be born?in the minds of a few, but it must be spoken by the mouths of many, and must?be carried on the shoulders of all—of every woman, man and child.

Each of us has opportunities to make a difference for our future. We must take hold of the opportunity to responsibly manage our environment. Let us veer away from the throwaway culture. Let us make the Earth a sustainable, safe and healthy planet for all of us and for the future generations.

“Sanay ako dyan,” he said. As Davao City mayor for 22 years, that was his stock answer to feuding spouses. There would be lawsuits and as much as possible the mayor wouldn’t meddle.

Speculative

As president though, he must know the national interest involved: impact of the alleged corruption on the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the position Andres held from 2010, and the Comelec, which he has headed since 2015. Was the result of the 2016 elections, in which Duterte won, influenced? Speculative of course until it could be proved that part of the Andres wealth came from Duterte’s campaign fund. Even then, still a stretch: How much of that corruption changed the outcome of the presidential race? Even Patricia was tentative by saying that it was merely her impression: that’s how it looked, from what the documents “impressed” her.

Family spat

More troubling, which brings a family quarrel to national stage, is the allegation that Andres received commissions from a law office which handled cases he had referred to it. The implication if those cases are related to elections or PCGG operations is staggering.

Then, of course, the core of the controversy: whether Andres used his public positions to enrich himself and hid them from his SALN, the swornto statements of assets, debts and net worth. Patricia says that is “the issue here, not the ransacking of her husbands’ files and taking away his personal documents, not even her alleged adultery.

While she hadn’t publicly denied it before, since the rumor broke out in 2013 when she dumped her husband, she now claims that she and business partner Alvin Lim, a former commercial model, were just friends. Alvin’s ex-girl friend, Margarita Fores, a chef and restaurateur, concocted the story, she said. Fixing marriage Adultery, hers or her husband’s, would explain why she has turned against the man who’s the father of their four sons (aged 8 to 16). That and the wish to share with his wealth, although Patricia says she’s asking only for one half of the “clean” money.

Whatever the reason for the split, the basic questions demanding answers are: Did Andres do what Patricia alleges as to how he piled up his wealth? Does he deserve to stay a day longer as Comelec chief?

Nuances such as whether the 2016 election was corrupted or Duterte should prosecute appointees of his predecessor must have prompted the president’s hands-off policy.

And solving the Bautistas domestic problem? Among the host of ills that Bautista’s “unreported” wealth has exposed, fixing their marriage is the least concern to the nation.