Ombudsman starts probe of ill-gotten wealth raps vs. Comelec chair Bautista

The Office of the Ombudsman has started its fact-finding investigation regarding Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista's alleged non-declaration of assets and accumulation of ill-gotten wealth.

In a text message to GMA News Online, Attorney Lorna Kapunan said Bautista's wife Patricia had been subpoenaed by the Ombudsman for its probe on the Comelec chairman's failure to disclose several bank accounts and real properties in his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth and for amassing ill-gotten wealth.

"She was subpoenaed by the (Ombudsman) in line with its fact-finding investigation and out of respect to the (Ombudsman), we brought our client," Kapunan said.

"We informed them there is already an investigation being conducted by the (National Bureau of Investigation) and therefore we don't want to preempt whatever the results will be," she added.

The development was also confirmed by a highly-placed source from the Ombudsman saying the case was now being handled by its Field Investigation Office.

"The FIO  is currently conducting fact-finding on SALN violations (and) illegal wealth of Comelec Chair (Bautista)," the source said in a separate text message.

The source also confirmed that Patricia went to the Ombudsman with Kapunan. 

Bautista declared a net worth of P176.3 million last year, but Patricia said she found bank and real property documents in her husband's name and those of his relatives that were not reflected in his 2016 SALN.

Patricia also accused her husband of having ghost employees during his stint as chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

Bautista, who claims he earned money from financial investments with his family even before he entered public service in 2010, has since denied the allegations.

He also filed criminal complaints against his wife.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to hear the impeachment complaint against Bautista filed by Former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio on Wednesday. —NB, GMA News