MANILA - A spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the Chief Executive will not tolerate corruption amid allegations that the country's elections chief has P1 billion in unexplained wealth.

Speaking to reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said allegations that Commission on Elections Chairman Andy Bautista has nearly P1 billion in unexplained wealth "has to be fully investigated."

"At this stage, that’s all we can say," Abella said in a news conference.

Asked whether the executive would support a possible impeachment case against Bautista, Abella said: "The President’s stand is pretty clear on this matter. He will not tolerate corruption, even a whiff."

The spokesman, however, refused to comment on Bautista’s claim that the allegations being thrown against him were politically motivated since he and Patricia have been an estranged couple for four years.

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Patricia Bautista, the estranged wife of the Comelec chief, earlier claimed she had discovered bank and real property documents, and several passbooks under her husband's name that were not included in his 2016 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Patricia reportedly submitted an affidavit last week to the National Bureau of Investigation, alleging that Bautista "might have had, or currently has, misdealing and corrupt practices while in government service."

Bautista has denied his estranged wife’s allegation, noting that he earned a good amount of money practicing law. He added the controversy was a mere “money play” by Patricia, who he said wanted to extort money from him.

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"Hindi po totoo iyang mga paratang na iyan. Matagal na po kaming may problemang mag-asawa na ngayon ay nababahiran na ng pulitika. Kasama ko po ang aking pamilya ng Bautista at pati na po ang kanyang pamilya, ang Cruz family, sa labang ito," Bautista told radio DZMM.

"Ipapakita po namin na ito ay isang kasong pangingikil at panggigipit. Ako po ang biktima rito -- biktima po ng pagtataksil at paggagahasa sa aking sariling pamamahay."

He also said his wife's allegations may have been politically motivated, given that she supposedly met with several political personalities recently.

Patricia's allegation came just days after Duterte met with her, her parents and Bautista in Malacañang last August 1.

"He gave me very good family advice and I explained to him my side... He was very kind to us. He was hoping that we would amicably settle," Bautista said of the meeting.

"I thought the things were heading in the right direction. And then all of a sudden there was this NBI affidavit that came out."

Prior to the August 1 meeting, Patricia reportedly managed to arrange a meeting with the President on July 26. During the said meeting, Duterte reportedly summoned NBI chief Dante Gierran to Malacañang.

Abella could not confirm whether Patricia indeed met Duterte on July 26, but he noted that the President had a closed-door meeting that day.