PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has maintained his stance that he will "highly support" moves that will keep his administration clean and free from any irregularities, Malacañang said Monday.
"Without making references to any particular individual, the President, of course, is highly supportive of all moves that will set the house, the Philippine government, in order. He's been very clear about that," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told Palace reporters.
"That is one of his campaign promises. And so, each and every move that entails a correction, especially in our institutions, is welcomed and I'm sure he's very supportive of," he added.
The statement was made by Abella when asked if the President will support calls for the resignation of Commission on Elections chairperson Andres Bautista, who has been accused by his own wife of amassing an ill-gotten wealth amounting to about P1 billion.
Bautista's estranged wife, Patricia, submitted an affidavit to the National Bureau of Investigation, alleging that the Comelec chief "might have had, or currently has, misdealing and corrupt practices while in government service."
Patricia had claimed that she found that Bautista has several bank accounts and real properties that were not declared in his 2016 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
Bautista had since denied all the allegations of his ex-wife in relation to his alleged ill-gotten wealth.
On August 7, Duterte said he would take a "hands-off" approach on Bautista's case as the latter belongs to "other side of the political fence." He said he met Bautista to tell him that he needs to "fix" his spat with his wife.
"I don't want to meddle," he said. "I asked him (Bautista) to fix his quarrel with the wife. That’s the thing that I could do as a lawyer."
But over the weekend, Duterte's chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, believed that Bautista would step down from office if he is impeached by the House of Representatives.
In an interview in Cauayan City, Isabela, Panelo said the poll chief would not "subject himself to an impeachment and a negative public scrutiny that will affect his family."
Sought for his reaction on Panelo's remark, Abella said Palace was "not in the habit of prophecies."
Earlier, Abella said corruption allegations hurled against Bautista "has to be fully investigated." (SunStar Philippines)