Former Comelec chief Bautista not in US custody

Source: The Manila times

MANILA, Philippines: The United States government dismissed reports that former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista has been arrested after he was sued for money laundering and conspiracy in the state of Florida last year.

"Juan Andres Donato Bautista is not in US custody and we decline to comment further," Nicole Navas Oxman, Senior Communications Advisor for International Law Enforcement of the US Department of Justice, said in an email message to The Manila Times on Wednesday.

The Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) filed the case against Bautista at the US District Court in the Southern District of Florida on Sept. 19, 2023.

The former Comelec chief allegedly received bribe money from top executives of an unnamed poll technology company and its subsidiaries, in exchange for assistance in their bid to secure multimillion-dollar election contracts.

Bautista denied the allegations and maintained his innocence.

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"I did not ask for nor receive any bribe money," Bautista said in a social media post. "Be that as it may, I am ready to respond to the alleged charges at the proper forum and time."

However, he has since gone into hiding and his messaging platforms and mobile number are no longer in use.