Elections Chairman Sixto Brilliantes hit back at accuser Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, denying the latter’s allegations that he tried to blackmail the lawmaker into confirming his appointment before the bicameral Commission on Appointments.
A Baffled Brilliantes faced the Comelec Media Tuesday, admitting he did approach a common friend to help smoothen things out with the senator., but there was no blackmail nor bribery involved. “Di ko kaya gawin iyon. Napakababa naman ng tingin ni sen cayetano para ako pumunta doon at makiusap. Ginawa ko lang kinausap ko certain person close to both of us only because at start of my assumption inaatake niya ako halos araw araw. so I talked to guy who I know is close friend pwede kausapin mo sI alan peter para makaexplain ako.”
Brilliantes also confirmed some common politician –friends may have approached Cayetano on their own to put in a good word for him but he had nothing to do with it. Brilliantes refused to name the politicians, but he named fellow election lawyers Romulo Macalintal and George Garcia as among those who approached Cayetano. However that attempt did not succeed.
“I will admit that probability some friends of mine may have approached alan peter .But no such bribery. More of an assistance. May mga friends ako, may lumalapit siguro, pero di ko pinapupunta iyan on a case I have no control anymore. Wala nakong control. Hindi ko kayo binablackmail.”
Brilliantes advised cayetano to just file his opposition to Brilliantes’ confirmation before the CA so Brilliantes can defend himself. Brillaintes noted cayetano is just one vote in the CA so he doesnt need to bribe him. “Maconfirm ako with 23 22 or even 13. Di ako magbribe ng isa lang di ko kailangan. Ano mapapala ko sa kaniya kung awayin ko siya. Humingi ako private audience ayaw niya. Pigil na pigil na nga ako. Ayoko galawin folder. Mahal na mahal niya asawa niya Advice ko tama naman yun. wag naman ganun basta na lang tatayo ka before the press.”
Brilliantes was surprised at Cayetnao’s pronouncements, since the issue is merely the recount of the votes in the Taguig City Mayoralty race in 2010, where Cayetano’s wife Lani beat former High Court Justice Tinga by over 2 thousand votes only.
Brilliantes says the Cayetano-Tinga case has not moved till last week, when the 2nd division ordered the recall of the ballot boxes. Brilliantes that’s when Cayetano got angry. Brilliantes believes Cayetano is merely employing dilatory tactics for his wife’s case. Cayetano’s camp had already sought the inhibition of Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph for supposedly being bias.
Tagle was replaced by Velasco from the 1st division. “Mahahalata mong dilatory”
Brilliantes maintains he has inhibited himself from the taguig case, as with all other cases he handled as election lawyer prior to his appointment.
Cayetano has asked that Taguig’s case be moved from the 2nd division to the 1st division. The commission is set to tackle that in an executive session.
“that would require consent of 1st div under comm. Rene (sarmiento)”
Brilliantes says nothing prevents the 1st division from taking over the case to let tempers go down. Brilliantes further advised Cayetano to just allow the recount to find out who really won the Taguig Mayoralty election. Brilliantes says cayetano maybe worried because of the slim margin between his wife and Tinga.
Brilliantes says the poll body maybe forced to seek military and police assistance to enforce the retrieval order over the ballot boxes.
Brilliantes stressed his conscience is clear, noting he even somehow represented Cayetano when he ran for senator in 2007. Brilliants was the lawyer for the Genuine Opposition Slate—which included cayetano.
Senator alan peter cayetano rebuts elections chairman sixto brilliants, accusing him of lawyering for the Tinga camp and opening the floodgates to poll manipulation.
Cayetano was reacting to Brillantes’ statements earlier today. Cayetano says Brillantes was merely mouthing the Tinga camp’s pronouncements on the recall of ballot boxes.
Cayetano says Brillantes is fast tracking the Taguig case when there are 43 other cases pending before the poll body.
Cayetano says Brillantes has been the Tinga camp’s lawyer for the last 30 years.
Cayetano still refused to name who are 6-8 individuals from the executive and legislative departments, as well as private lawyers who offered to mediate between them
Cayetano wants an independeng probe into the incident.
Cayetano notes brillantes has changed the rules on protests, citing that now, cf cards will merely be evidence instead of being the control mechanism for electoral protests. This means comelec commissioner have the discretion whether or not they will believe the data of cf cards.
Cayetano says he has security experts who can prove of the security lapses in the warehouse where the ballot boxes are being kept.
Cayetano says Brillantes makes “garci” look like his student.
Brillantes he says has tapped a Garci boy, atty. Teofisto Elnas in the Taguig case.
he still refused to name the individuals who approached him for brillantes
MEANWHILE
The New Commissioner of the Commission on Elections, lawyer Christian Robert Lim, denies his appointment has anything to do with any preparations by former senator mar roxas for an election bid in 2016.
Lim was asked this question in his 1st press briefing before the COMELEC media on Tuesday.
Lim says he only talked to Roxas once, and that was when the former lawmaker called to congratulate him for his appointment.”But besides that he wasnt able to telk to me in terms of plans for 2016 its all speculative.”
Lim was a lawyer for Roxas and President Aquino, as well as the Villaraza, Cruz, Marcelo and Angangco law firm, which has known close ties to Roxas.
“I used to be an associate employee. I don’t know who pushed my papers if that helped im grateful to those who helped me.”
Lim will serve till February 2, 2018, 2 years after the 2016 presidential elections.
Lim is still surprised at his appointment, saying he feels overwhelmed now that the chairman sixto brilliants has started to give him an orientation on his new job. “till now mejo naoverwhelm pako to think si chairman brought me up, made me sit in en banc to know dynamics of commission still learning process.”
Lim says he only submitted a resume, and that he was informed he was being considered. However he didn’t see his name in any shortlists reported by media.
Lim says he feels now is the time to serve government after turning down previous offers to join government.
Lim is aware of the comparisons between him and his predecessor, lawyer Gregorio Larrazabal. “ Mas gwapo siya hahaha” like his predecessor, Lim says he is also fond of electronics.
Lim is now focusing his energies towards preparing for the regional elections in the ARMM. “ Mukhang tutuloy yung armm elections we hope we can refine the automation process. Use it to further showcase automation.”
Lim will serve with the 1st division, led by Commissioner Rene Sarmiento.
