Malacañang prefers to keep its hands off on the impeachment of outgoing Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista.
This came after the House of Representatives voted to impeach the poll body chief Wednesday afternoon, following his resignation that morning.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, the Congress should be the one to decide on the fate of Bautista.
“Congress should decide what to do with this impeachment in view of his resignation,” Abella said during the Palace press briefing Thursday.
“After his successor is named, we look forward to a smooth transition and preparations for Barangay and SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) Elections next year, the midterm polls, and if possible, BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law) and Charter Change plebiscites in 2019,” he added.
The Palace, however, said it acknowledge the services of Bautista as Comelec chair.
Comelec chairman Andres Bautista, for his part, said it will be up to Malacañang to decide whether to keep or replace him as the head of the poll body before the effectivity of his resignation in December.
In a radio interview, Bautista disclosed he was ready to vacate his post at an earlier date if Malacañang will be able to immediately find his replacement.
However, he noted, he was also prepared to stay if President Duterte decides to set aside his resignation.
“The Dec. 31 date is not cast in stone…it aims to give the President enough time to make the transition (for my resignation) smooth and orderly,” Bautista said during an interview.
“At this point, I would just wait for the decision of the President,” Bautista said. (With reports from Samuel Medenilla)
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