Maraming lumalabas na kurukuro tungkol sa motibo ni Patricia Cruz Bautista sa kanyang pagbulgar sa umanong tagong-yaman ng kanyang asawang si COMELEC chairman Andres “Andy Bau” Bautista.
Gamitin natin ang Occam’s Razor at piliin ang pinaka-simpleng dahilan. Ayaw niyang masangkot ang kanyang pangalan at ang kanilang mga anak sa anumang katiwalian ng kanyang asawa. Ito mismo ang kanyang pahayag sa kanyang sinumpaang salaysay na isinumite sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) noong ika-1 ng Agosto, 2017.
I was prompted to execute this Affidavit and expose Andy’s misdealing and seemingly corrupt practices for the following reasons:
(a) I fear that perhaps some properties and finances our family may have accumulated/benefitted from during his time in office may have originated from illegal or immoral acts or conducts. My family and children are all Catholics, and they (children) all attend the Ateneo. The last thing that I want my children to learn is that our family’s wealth has been sourced from corruption and illegal actions.
(b) I want to make a distinction beween the “clean” and “dirty” money that form part of our conjugal property as husband and wife. After all, Andy worked in the private sector before joining the government, and his income from the private sector was substantial as well. I can say for certain that a a large portion of Andy’s assets are from his previous work. It is difficult for me, however, to make such distinction since Andy controls most, if not all, of our finances; and he has been the one who controls most of the family’s major spending. All I want is to be able to make this distinction and separate what legally belongs to my family / children.
(c) I likewise fear that my name and reputation might be dragged and implicated in these (ill-gotten) properties should there be any eventual formal investigation conducted against Andy. I do not want to be regarded as complicit, in any way, to whatever corrupt, illegal or immoral actiosn Andy has done or is currently doing. I have not participated, even once, in any of these matters I discovered.
(d) Andy knows I have in my possession the documents and papers that I have mentioned in this Affidavit. As his reprisal, Andy has purposely cut off any financial support that he has previously given to me and my family, in the hopes that this act would pressure me to give up the documents and information tI have against him, and to keep me silent about all these.
(e) As a concerned citizen, I believe that someone like Andy, although extremely professionally qualified, should not be allowed to hold any government position as a consequence of the possible ramifications of what I have found. It is my fervent duty to inform all concerned parties about these information and documents so that the appropriate actions may be undertaken.
(f) As of this writing, Andy continues to deprive me and my children of the financial support that we deserve. The income that I receive from my work is not enough to support all 4 of my children, and Andy has always been the one who provided for the substantial expenses of the family. This prompted me to file a case of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) before the Office of the Prosecutor in Taguig City against Andy for the emotional and economic sabotage, among others, that he is performing against me and my family.
(g) Lastly, I am also executing this affidavit because I am fearful upon understanding the possibility that Andy’s affiliation with Nilo Divina, as well as other activities, may put me and my children in harm’s way with people/institutions I may not even be aware of. Given Andy’s wide network, locally and internationally, it is likewise my fear that he may be connected with a larger group of people/organization with unknown reach and influence.
Full affidavit submitted by Patricia C. Bautista to the NBI to be posted soon.
