Andres Bautista can't say if he can forgive wife after public spat

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista revealed on "24 Oras" Thursday that he can't say if he can forgive his wife, Patricia.

In a one-on-one interview with GMA News' Vicky Morales, Bautista became emotional when he talked about his feelings for his estranged wife and his family.

When asked if he still has feelings for his estranged wife, "You know, at this point, I can't even say that I have forgiven her e. And can you love someone that you have not forgiven?"

"Again, only the Lord knows. They say time heals all wounds, but to be honest, I don't know," he added.

His wife, Patricia, said on Monday that her husband had almost P1 billion worth of unexplained wealth.

The camp of Patricia claimed that the cases filed by her husband does not hold water, particularly the charge of qualified theft. Their properties, she said, are classified as conjugal properties.

"Well, ako, unang-una, hayaan na natin ang korte maghusga sa issue-ng yan, 'yung kasing pagnanakaw na nangyari ay hindi lang pag-aari ko, kundi pag-aari rin ng aking pamilya," Bautista said.

"Ipapakita namin yan sa mga sumusunod na araw," he added.

On the case of grave coercion, Bautista also denied the allegation.

"Hindi po totoo iyon, 'yung pong krimen ng grave coercion, ay nakamit or nagawa dahil ako po ay pinigilan na pumasok sa aking sariling pamamahay," he said.

He added noted during the interview that what transgressed during the week was uncharacteristic for his wife.

"Alam mo, hindi eh, kaya talagang ako'y nagulat nung nangyari ito," he said.

Andres said he was ready for whatever his wife plan to use in court, including CCTV footage.

"Go ahead, kung ano man 'yung gusto niyang ipakita, go ahead, but ang mas maganda, imbes na sabihin sa media, eh di mag-file ng kaso," he said.

Patricia questioned her husband's fidelity and that she found bullwhips and cash gifts, among other things in his locked safe and cabinets.

Bautista dismissed the allegations as "kalokohan."

He said the whip is not a sex toy, saying he planned to give it as a gift to an election commissioner.

"Plano ko sanang ibigay sa isang commissioner na pag kami nagkakawaway sa en banc, siya yung parang naglalatigo," Bautista said.

"Sex den. Di sana yung latigo nasa sex den," he added.

He was referring to the statement issued by his wife's lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, that he has two properties being used as sex dens, and that a whip and condoms were found inside a cabinet where Patricia discovered her husband's passbooks and other documents.

The chairman, however, questioned the timing of his wife's expose.

"Wala, as I said, ang sinasabi ko is hayaan nating ang katotohanang lumabas...ten months lang ang nakalipas since ninakaw itong mga gamit, okay?"

"Kung ako nagkasala, bakit nila nilalabas 10 months after?"

The Bautista couple live in two separate condominium units.

"Mahirap talaga, mahirap, noh, at sa totoo lang, ngayon, siya ay nandoon sa isang unit, ako naman ay nandoon, nasa kabilang unit," he said.

"Pero minsan din, sa totoo lang, dahil ako ay nalulungkot, ako'y nakikitira sa kanyang nanay o nakikitira sa aking kapatid. Ako naman ang interes na aking pinoprotektahan ay ang interes ng aking mga anak," the chairman added.

When asked about the family's reaction to the rift with his wife, Bautista became emotional.

"Alamo mo Vicky, yung Mom ko nagka stroke two years ago. Na-stroke also because of this. She felt so bad sa nangyari because you know, she was trying to help. You know, to patch things up," he said.

"At ang nanay ko, noong naghihiwalay, sabi niya sa akin, 'wag kang maghiwalay, manalig ka sa diyos, you know? Magbabago rin 'yan, makikita niya rin ang liwanag. Alam niya, alam din yan ng mother-in-law ko, i kept the faith," he added.

Bautista disclosed that his wife has given him a demand letter seeking her financial and property shares and that he also prepared a letter citing his own terms for their agreement.

Bautista earlier said he was willing to pay her P70 million in the form of a manager's check, which among his terms for their agreement. — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News