Bautista deemed resigned, no need to impeach – Rody

Beleaguered Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista need not undergo the tedious impeachment process because he is deemed resigned from his post, President Duterte said last night.

But Duterte also stayed clear of the move of the House of Representatives, which reversed last Wednesday afternoon in a plenary vote its committee’s decision to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Bautista for insufficiency of form.

In a taped interview at state-run PTV-4, the President said he was surprised upon learning that the House went on with the impeachment when he had received the Comelec chairman’s resignation filed through the Office of the Executive Secretary and had accepted Bautista’s decision.

“Nagtaka ako (I wondered), it was the other day, he has (filed) resignation. Mukhang pinirmahan ko (It looks like I signed it). I don’t know if you can still impeach him or not. By resigning, he has removed himself,” Duterte said.

But he said he did not call any of his House allies about the impeachment complaint, adding it is not his style.

“Nobody but nobody called… I remember distinctly, nobody told me that you are resuming the impeachment process. Hindi ako nakikialam (I don’t interfere),” he said.

Duterte recalled having summoned Bautista to Malacañang a few months ago before his wife Patricia went public with their marital problems.

At that time, Duterte said he had already advised the Comelec chairman to settle the matter with his wife, after all, they have children.

The wife complained that she did not receive any financial support from Bau- From Page 1 tista, the Chief Executive said.

“Wala siyang pera (She doesn’t have money). It’s a matter of support, may anak ka dyan eh (you have children),” he said.

When Bautista’s resignation letter reached his office, Duterte said he thought it would be better for the nation since the country as well as Bautista need not undergo the divisive process of impeachment.

“I will await official communication from Malacañang,” Bautista told The STAR last night after the President disclosed that he had accepted the resignation.