Bautista hangs on

Asks for more time to decide on calls to resign

MANILA -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista has asked for more time to decide on whether to resign or take a leave of absence.

Bautista in an interview Monday said he is still thinking and praying to come up with the best decision.

Six Comelec commissioners last week urged Bautista to resign or take a leave of absence to focus on the impeachment complaint filed against him at the House of Representatives and the investigation being conducted by different agencies into his alleged hidden wealth.

Bautista said he sees no bad faith on the resignation calls by the commissioners but pleaded for more time to think.

The poll chief said that among the things he considers is the responsibility given to him as chief of the Comelec.

"Di naman dapat matagal masyado pero hindi rin naman dapat inaapura," he said. "Meron po tayong panunungkulan, responsibilidad sa Comelec, sa halalan. Yang interes na yan ay dapat protektahan."

The National Bureau of Investigation, Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Bureau of Internal Revenue conducting probes on Bautista, based on the information and documents presented by Patricia, the estranged wife of the Comelec chair.

Bautista was accused of owning 35 bank accounts at the Luzon Development accounts, offshore accounts abroad, and posh condominiums in the Philippines and overseas. SunStar Philippines