Andy Bautista camp seeks recall of arrest order

MANILA - The lawyer of former Commission on Elections chairperson Andres Bautista on Monday asked a Senate panel to recall the warrant of arrest against him.

The Senate committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies in February ordered Bautista's arrest after failing to attend its inquiry into his alleged violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Senator Francis Escudero, who chairs the panel, said a document lifting the arrest warrant against Bautista may be released in April if he submits an affidavit on March 26.

Bautista's wife, Patricia, earlier accused the former poll chief of keeping P1 billion in undeclared assets, allegedly including 35 accounts at the Luzon Development Bank with a balance of P329 million.

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Bautista has been in the United States since November to seek medical treatment.

He is suffering from secondary pulmonary hypertension possibly due to obstructive sleep apnea, essential hypertension and hyperlipidemia, his doctors had said.

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Malacañang however said Bautista's continued absence at the Senate inquiry and his decision to leave the country indicate guilt.

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The Anti-Money Laundering Council said it will complete a separate investigation into the issue next month.

Report from Mimi Ong, ABS-CBN News