The camp of presumptive president Bongbong Marcos issued a challenge Friday, May 13 to former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andy Bautista in connection with the Picasso painting issue.
The issue began with the sighting of an alleged lost painting of Pablo Picasso in the living room of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, based on photos shared by the staff of her son, UniTeam bet Bongbong.
Bautista isn't just the former head of Comelec; he also once chaired the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG). The PCGG's mandate is to go after the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses post-EDSA.
"PCGG, the Picasso is back! Please seize it for the Filipino people while you still can," Bautista said earlier this week, referring to the "Picasso sighting".
Asked about this in a press conference Friday, Marcos spokesperson and chief-of-staff Vic Rodriguez said: "The allegation is coming from the former chairman of the Comelec. It's very easy agitating people, making allegation, making accusations when you are thousands of miles away from your motherland."
Rodriguez then issued his challenge to the former Comelec chairman.
"I invite you chairman Andy Bautista to come home if you’re confident enough and make your allegations here in person and so that to be fair to the Filipino people. We can also hold you accountable for the many and allegations as as to the conduct of the 2016 elections."
Still referring to Bautista, the Marcos mouthpiece said: "We will not follow the narrative of somebody who is thousands away from his motherland."
"Umuwi ho kayo dito, dito niyo gawin ang inyong alegasyon ng sa gayun mapanagot din namen kayo doon sa mga napakaraming bintang at alegasyon tungkol sa kung paano niyo pinatakbo ang 2016 elections (Come home here, make your allegations here so that we would be able to hold you accountable on the many allegations about how you ran the 2016 elections)."