Wife vs hubby: Plot thickens

Nora Sorino /

ILIGAN City–“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

At first it seemed just like that — trouble at the domestic front. We’re talking of course of the couple or rather, their messy “uncoupling.” Yes, I mean Comelec chair Andres Bautista and wife Patricia.

These days, their tales rival that of the Parojinogs. And the stories at the Bureau of Customs or that of the Marawi seige.

First, wife Patricia gave several mouthfuls directed at hubby Andres. He allegedly has several bank accounts, very rich, and she, the “battered” wife, was not able to share the largesse. Among others, she accused him of VAWC or Violence Against Women and Children.

It doesn’t show in her persona as she appears as pretty as ever, in her late forties. And one could just assume, maybe, not physically but mentally, if at all.

And then Andy gave his side. Oh, it seemed like crying time for him. What with all those accusations hurled at him. Those were not true at all, he said. She was the one who “tortured” him, was his message as he aired his side. She was a spendthrift and he had to bail her out of credit card trouble which she had gotten herself into to the tune of over a million bucks. And she was the one who left their abode. He spoke too of a “third party.”

And then came the other cast of characters like Atty. Lorna Kapunan and the other lawyers of Patricia.

Not to be outdone, characters from the  family on the side of Andres came out of the woodwork, too. To support embattled Andy.

Media then were able to extract some more out of that damned trouble. It seemed like the trouble that seemed to be started by wifey had a life of its own now. Terms like “co-mingled” came up… and “fees”… and “banks”… and “unexplained wealth” — billions of them which the Comelec chair allegedly did not include in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

Was it Andy’s brother who said that part of the money were not really the Commisioner’s alone but “co-mingled” with theirs, I mean, the other siblings of Andy and/or other family members?

Kapunan, that feisty lady of a lawyer, was ready to oblige anybody to share her insights on the matter. It was then learned that she is now Patricia’s spokesperson. A woman is better understood by another woman. Maybe, that is what she is implying and her thoughts are better articulated by a woman especially if that woman is an abogada de kampanilya.

For example, she says in many words, what was Andres doing when he was then connected with the PCGG? Or why did he earn so much fees on the sides when he refers some people to a certain law firm?  And, what is meant by “referral fee?” Wasn’t that, ah, mysterious especially with someone who has that government position?

Kapunan didn’t exactly say those words but her pronouncements had that effect on this writer.

And, too, she said in so many words, why put plenty of money in an obscure bank like the Luzon Development Bank? It was learned that Bautista’s money was first deposited in BDO, before it was transferred to the aforesaid bank.

Then, there’s this classmate of Andres in the Ateneo de Manila high school days also coming into the picture.

And, what about this P2-billion pyramic scheme they are talking about?

Really, the plot gets thicker… and thicker…

Which reminds me of this: A man came to his friend and told that friend he just stabbed his wife and his mother in law.

“What do you want me to do, call the police?”

“No.” The man answered. “I mean, there’s a best-seller story in me!”