MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – He sought refuge in America to escape charges (and a Philippine Senate subpoena) of unexplained wealth only to find himself being sued by the U.S. Government.

The United States government has sued former Philippine elections chief Andres Bautista for money laundering and conspiracy after his estranged wife, Patricia Paz Bautista, flagged his alleged ill-gotten wealth worth P1 billion ($17.57 million).

Bautista’s alleged anomalous dealings were related to the Philippines’ presidential elections in 2016.

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 Tuesday, September 19. 

Will Bautista now voluntarily return to the Philippines to escape the U.S. lawsuit? Or will the Department of Homeland Security which oversees U.S. immigration deport him back?

Bautista’s honeymoon with the land of the free may soon come to an end.