PATRICIA Paz C. Bautista, 47, describes herself as “the legal wife” of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Juan Andres “Andy” Bautista, appointed in 2015 for a term of seven years. Under our laws, also observed in other countries, a wife may not inform on her husband in connection with any wrongdoing, except in case of crimes committed by him against her. Yet she has filed an affidavit before the National Bureau of Investigation claiming he has amassed about P1 billion in undeclared and unexplained wealth, mostly in 2016, the year of the last presidential elections. Bautista denies everything, saying the accusation sprang from their broken marriage, characterized by her alleged affair with another man, and her attempt to extort P620 million from him. But the claim is supported by a stack of incriminating bank and other documents.