The marital woes of Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista and his wife Patricia has far-reaching implications. It raises questions on the integrity of the 2016 national and local elections. Now Chairman Bautista faces the dilemma of resigning or suffering impeachment.
If I were given a chance to advice Bautista, I would tell him to resign. I know how the impeachment process goes. It’s a political exercise. I can imagine the kind of questions that will be asked of him and Tisha.
Andy Bautista is a friend. He was a classmate of my son, Eric. I lauded his appointment, first as chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government and then as chairman of the Commission on Elections. I want to be honest with him—I think he would be better off if he resigned.
Of course, resignation will not exonerate him from all the accusations his wife has thrown at him. But it will show that for him, being Comelec chairman is not the be-all and end-all. He would still have his self-respect. If he were to be impeached, he could be torn to pieces!
Recall how it was with Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. He was impeached, tried and convicted for not revealing everything in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. My gulay, he died a broken man!
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When former Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was appointed by the President to the Department of Foreign Affairs, he knew his role as the country’s top diplomat. As such, he also knew that as implementor of the country’s foreign policy, he must always have the Philippines’ interest, first and foremost, in his mind.
We heard Cayetano say that if we attempted to drill oil in the South China Sea, there would be war. And then he echoed China’s line that there was no bullying and threatening. Cayetano’s words were contrary to what happened when we went to the Permanent Court of Arbitration—is he not aware of this?
What takes the cake insofar as Cayetano’s subservience to China is concerned is his behavior during the Asean foreign ministers’ summit. He convinced our fellow Asean members to issue a tepid joint communique, very careful not to offend China.
Let me ask the Secretary: For what country is he now working?
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I have been saying all along that Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon must resign for his failure to curb smuggling in his agency. Worse, his fellow mutineers whom he appointed to sensitive positions are said to be involved in the distribution of grease money by smugglers. Even his own men are running circles around him! This is what the administration gets for appointing a novato!
The House committee investigations have shown Faeldon to be incompetent.
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I have often wondered about tycoons —how do they spend all the money they have earned? Can they spend that in a lifetime? In 100, 200 years?
Are they doing it for their children or grandchildren? Is it for love of money or the challenge of making money? Some say that when businessmen put up companies, they feel obligated to their employees to continue making money. Also, because of their corporate social responsibility, they feel they must make more money.
Some of our tycoons make it a point to pay it forward. They contribute to the nation’s growth and become nation builders. To me they are the true heroes.
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On Sept. 25, the 365 Club, founded in 1972 after the declaration of martial law, will celebrate its 45th anniversary with breakfast for all its members, courtesy of the Holiday Inn and Suites management.
