By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
After failing to attend Monday’s hearing on possible violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, a Senate panel has ordered the arrest of former Commission on Elections Chair Andres Bautista.
Senate committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies chair Francis Escudero cited Bautista in contempt after rejecting the former COMELEC chair’s explanation about why he did not appear in the Senate panel probe.
According to Escudero, Bautista lied when he said he left the country on Nov. 21, 2017 to look for “professional opportunities” and seek medical assistance.
He said that based on records of the Bureau of Immigration, Bautista left the Philippines on October 2017 and returned to the country from Singapore on November 1, 2017.
Escudero said there is still no immigration record of Bautista leaving the country again, which means he could be hiding in the Philippines.
Escudero said he would only recall the arrest order against Bautista if he issued a waiver that would enable them to open his bank accounts that are being questioned.