Guanzon calls Comelec chair Bautista biased

Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon on Monday said Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista is biased in favor of presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe.

In an interview on GMA's Unang Hirit, Guanzon hit Bautista for saying the comment submitted Jan. 7 to the Supreme Court regarding Poe's petition was not signed by him.

"Ngayon nagrereklamo siya na ang nasumite namin ay walang pirma? Sino ang partisan dito? Ako o si Chairman Bautista?" Guanzon said.

The issue stemmed after the poll body submitted a comment on Jan. 7 to the high court opposing the petitions filed by Poe challenging her disqualification from the May 2016 presidential race.

In its comment, the Comelec denied Poe’s claim that it committed grave abuse of discretion when its en banc upheld two resolutions from two of its divisions canceling her certificate of candidacy (COC) for president.

The 73-page comment was filed by Guanzon.

Bautista then issued a memorandum to Guanzon asking her to explain why she did not let him read the agency's comment to the SC. If she fails to do so, Bautista will be forced to tell the SC that the document she filed at the high court is unauthorized.

Bautista added that Guanzon’s decision was a sign of disrespect to his position.

Reiterating what she said on Friday that she is not Bautista's employee or subordinate, Guanzon on Monday said, "Nagsalita in public. Bakit niya ako i-issue-han ng memo? Empleyado ba niya ako?"

Guanzon earlier said she filed the comment to meet the Jan. 7 deadline of the SC. 

In her statement, Guanzon said the preparation and filing of the comment had the "imprimatur" of the Comelec en banc. She said the SC only gave the Comelec 10 days to file a comment. The temporary restraining order on the Comelec's ruling disqualifying Poe was released on Dec. 28.

Guanzon also said on Twitter that Bautista hinted of an extension of deadline by the SC in criticizing her move to file the comment on Jan. 7. She dared Bautista to reveal his informant in the high court.

"Ang sinasabi ni Chair Bautista na may deadline, inilagay niya lang. Bakit di niya ilagay ang pangalan niya e nagsabi naman ang chief of staff niya? Sabi ng chief of staff niya, 'di nakapirma dahil gabing-gabi na. Three a.m. na lang ng January 7 na kami natapos. Kung may deadline kayo sa SC, 9 a.m. nagpirma na kami. Wala naman siyang sinabi na pipirma pala siya. Ang en banc naman ang nagde-decide sa amin, 'di naman ang chairman. Ang boss po namin ang Constitution at ang batas. Five kami laban sa two lang. Ganyan talaga ang batas," Guanzon said on Monday.

On Poe's appeal to Bautista to investigate "personalities" in the poll body who are allegedly trying to sabotage her chances of joining the 2016 presidential race, Guanzon said, "Bakit kami papaimbestigahan? Supreme Court ba sila? 'Di kami pwedeng kasu-kasuhan ng kung anu-ano lang. We are impeachable officers."

"I dare na buksan lahat ng minutes—audio at lahat ng vouchers diyan sa Comelec. Malalaman natin sa subpoena sa kaso ni Rizalito David vs. Grace Poe. Sixty days po hindi na-issue ang subpoena sa department. At bakit pinaboran ng ganoon si Sen. Poe? Doon sa meeting na 'yun, October na hindi pa na-serve," she added.

"'Why is it that you have been sitting on this subpoena for 60 days?' Nagalit si Chair Bautista, tumayo siya tapos sinigawan niya ako. Mga commissioners kami. Hindi kami dapat sinisigawan ng chairman. (Bakit pagdating) kay Grace Poe, bakit napaka-emotional niya?" Guanzon said.

Not for Roxas

Guanzon also denied she is allied with administration presidential bet Mar Roxas. 

"Sinasabi nilang kaanak ko raw si Mar Roxas. 'Di ko nga ka-text 'yan. Unfair naman po 'yan," she said.

Instead, she bared Bautista's alleged connection to the law firm that filed Poe's petition with the Supreme Court.

"Nag-file pala ng petition sa Supreme Court ay ang Poblador Bautista Law Office, eh ano naman ni Chair Bautista 'yan si Mario Bautista? Hindi ba 'yan kapatid ng tatay niya," she said.

‘Not true’

In response to the accusation of him being biased, Bautista on Monday said: "'Di po totoo 'yun."

"Kung susundin ang petition, sa aking palagay, 'di rin siya (Poe) natural-born citizen at 'di na-meet ang 10-year (requirement). Kaya lang 'di masabi na walang deliberate intent," Bautista said in a phone interview on Unang Hirit.

Bautista also denied he shouted at Guanzon. "Hindi ko po istilo 'yung naninigaw. Pwede niyo po itanong 'yan sa aking mga kasama sa Comelec en banc."

He added he is open to allowing the audio recordings to be scrutinized.

Bautista also said there is miscommunication. "Sa aking palagay, oo. Sa headlines, 'Comelec in disarray.' Hindi naman makatotohanan 'yun. Dapat pag-usapan ito sa Comelec en banc."

Asked for comment on Guanzon's statement that she is not Bautista's subordinate, he said, "No comment na lang diyan." —KG/KBK, GMA News