Brillantes Jr. vows to eradicate election fraud as new COMELEC chairman

Sixto Brillantes Jr takes oath

Newly sworn in Commission on Elections chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Sunday said he aims to “perfect" automated elections during his term to totally eradicate election fraud in the country.

The veteran election lawyer took his oath of office at 4:19 p.m. Sunday before Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura at the Supreme Court.

“During the first national automated elections, the Comelec resolved a number of election problems.  We just need to perfect the automated election system to see that election fraud is absolutely obliterated," Brillantes said in an interview Sunday.

At a press briefing after his oath-taking, Brillantes said he will implement "structural and organizational" changes within the Comelec.  He said the Comelec needs to improve its internal functions.

"Ang bagal gumawa ng desisyon ng Comelec," Brillantes said, citing some setbacks in terms of accrediting political parties during last year's automated elections.

He is confident he can wipe out electoral fraud and corruption as he is "familiar with various poll problems" plaguing the country, he said in the interview.

He will report to the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila, on Monday to meet with the poll body's commissioners and employees.  "I will go around the office [Monday] to talk with them individually."

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that Brillantes opted to take his oath as the new Comelec chief before Nachura because "they worked in the same law office, went to the same school, and are good friends."

Both of them were with the Brillantes Nachura Navarro Jumamil Arcilla Escolin Martinez Law Offices.

“ Alam ko ang mga problema at ang mga tao sa Comelec.  Change of status lang ito," Brillantes said, referring to his experience as an election lawyer, which he intends to bring into his post.

With Brillantes at the helm, the poll body can reach "full and permanent modernization" and be transformed into a more competent institution, De Lima, for her part, said in a text message to reporters.

"He is already well versed with its problems and has established personal and professional linkages with its senior staff.  He has moral ascendancy over them," De Lima said.

He will give Comelec a "fresh infusion of energy and perspective," added De Lima, herself an election lawyer.

Brillantes' expertise in election law will make Comelec running without any need for introductions or warm ups.  "He had been warming up for this post since he started his election law practice," De Lima said.

Automated polls, ‘new problems’

On Sunday, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that as the new Comelec chair, Brillantes should look into the ghosts of election fraud over the past decade.

“For the longest time, Comelec has been perceived as one of the most corrupt government agencies because of the conduct of its officials.  Now is a good time to begin the process of cleaning up Comelec," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said in a statement.

According to Reyes, the new Comelec chairman should look into the involvement of the poll body's officials in the rigging of the 2004 elections, as well as various irregularities and anomalies in the approval of contracts for election paraphernalia.

The problems that beleaguered last year's automated polls and the questionable groups and nominees that participated in the party-list elections should also be looked into, he added.

Reyes pointed out that the automated polls have not stamped out election problems.  "New problems arose even as many old problems persisted," he said.

"Attorney Brillantes is known for his expertise on election laws.  Malaking bagay para sa Comelec ang knowledge niya.  We will guide him how to work in the government," Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, the most senior official in the poll body, said in a separate interview.

To assume post Monday

On Saturday night, Brillantes disclosed that he was named as Comelec's new chief. Brillantes expects to formally assume his new post Monday replacing Jose Melo, who resigned from his post effective Saturday.

Radio dzBB reported that his apparent closest rival to the post had even backed out of the race; Romulo Macalintal, had asked to remove his name from the list of prospects.

Macalintal wrote President Benigno Aquino III a letter, saying he decided not to seek the top Comelec post because of his family, dzBB said.

But Macalintal stressed he is still ready to help in election-related matters.

Last week, Macalintal and Brillantes both expressed readiness to take the post, even as they downplayed speculations they are pawns of two factions in Malacañang.

Macalintal was perceived to have the backing of the "Balay" group of former Sen. Manuel Roxas II while Brillantes was said to be backed by the rival "Samar" group.

Still, presidential deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte pointed out in a separate interview on dzBB that Malacañang has not made any formal announcement on the new Comelec chair's appointment.

A Philippine Daily Inquirer report quoted Brillantes as saying that President Benigno Aquino III signed his appointment papers Saturday night.– With Sophia Dedace/MRT/VS/KBK, GMANews.TV