“Andy. Andy. Andito kami. Chairman! Chairman! Hindi ka namin iiwanan.”
The shouts of support are directed toward Commission on Elections Chair Andres “Andy” Bautista, who is facing what he describes as “a demolition job” apparently aimed at tearing the Comelec leadership asunder.
Bautista was recently hit by a bombastic accusation, by his wife, no less, Patricia Cruz-Bautista, of keeping ill-gotten wealth as well as a slew of other accusations having to do with his work at Comelec.
Shouting at the top of their voices, the Comelec staff gathered at the premises repeated: “Mabuhay (Long live) si Chairman!”
They underscored that they do not believe the ill-gotten wealth accusations against their boss.
“The chairman is innocent of charges against him,” they chorused.
During a mass, Commissioner Arthur Lim was among those who approached Bautista to express support.
During part of the homily, Bautista appeared overcome by emotion.
Later, he said: “The most important is prayer, especially for my children.”
“Kalokohan (Foolishness)!” he retorted when asked about the charges hurled by Patricia’s legal adviser.
But he declined to hit back directly at his wife, in consideration of the couple’s children: “Nasa korte na yan (It’s already in the courts).”
He showed a draft copy of what is supposed to be an impeachment complaint that would be filed against him, where it was indicated that some of the controversies rocking Comelec today had something to do with alleged rigging of the 2016 national elections.
The grounds for impeachment, he elaborated, included betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption and culpable violation of the Constitution.
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