MANILA - Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista on Wednesday said he has filed criminal charges against his estranged wife, Patricia, who accused him of misdeclaring his wealth.

Together with his family, Bautista filed on Tuesday cases of grave coercion, qualified theft and robbery, and extortion, he said on ANC's Headstart.

The marital spat between the couple has been elevated to the national level when Patricia claimed she discovered bank documents that would prove that the poll chief did not declare some P1 billion in his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth.

Bautista had denied the allegation, saying his family will hold a press conference "in due time" to explain her accusations.