Comelec chief’s wife placed under witness protection
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday placed Patricia Cruz-Bautista, estranged wife of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista, on provisional admission to the witness protection program (WPP).
Aguirre, who appeared with Patricia in a late afternoon press conference, said he had signed the certificate of provisional admission into the WPP.
He explained that the move was done “in consideration of her safety as a potential witness” and made in accordance to Article III, Sections 1 to 3 of Republic Act 6981 and Section 2 of its implementing rules and regulations.
Although Patricia is entitled to a safe house, transportation, health benefits and security, she only needs its security protection aspect.
Aguirre said Patricia is entitled to full protection under the WPP once she executes an affidavit and a memorandum of agreement (MOA).
“We wish to stress that before being provided with actual protection, security and/ or benefit under the WPP, Ms. Cruz-Bautista must execute an MOA. Ms. Cruz-Bautista came to the DOJ freely and voluntarily, with her lawyers, to seek her admission to the WPP,” he added.
The police protection, Aguirre also said, could be extended to the four children of the estranged Bautista couple “in the future and if necessary.”
Placing Patricia under the WPP would not affect the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe into the alleged unexplained wealth of chairman Bautista, he added.
When asked how she was doing now, Patricia said: “It has not been easy but I have received a lot of support and kindness and I cannot be more grateful… We have to rise to the occasion and be strong.”
She added that she was coping with the situation one day at a time and denied that her children were being bullied in school.
Meanwhile, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) yesterday urged Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista to take a leave of absence from the poll body while he faces an investigation over his alleged unexplained wealth.
Namfrel secretary-general Eric Alvia said the allegations that Bautista received commissions and amassed wealth beyond his declared net worth “are serious.”
Patricia earlier said the poll executive amassed close to P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth, a claim that was readily denied.
The National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Internal Revenue have already started their probes, while the Senate and the House of Representatives have announced that they would also look into the charges.
Alvia supports the calls of poll watchdog Kontra-Daya and Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon for Bautista to take a leave of absence, saying it is “the least harsh and more prudent action.”