Brillantes, Cayetano face off in hearing on electoral reforms

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. confronted yesterday Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano over the latter’s accusations that he tolerated election fraud activities by not lifting a finger against the so-called “Hello, Garci” commissioners.

Brillantes was unable to hide his disappointment over Cayetano’s continuous attacks against him, the latest of which was the senator’s interpellation when Sen. Grace Poe had a privilege speech about the “Hello, Garci” scandal two weeks ago.

“Who benefitted from the 2004 elections, who was linked with Garci then?” Brillantes told the committee, addressing his statements to Cayetano, who was visibly affected by the counter-attacks.

Brillantes hinted it was Cayetano who was then close to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then first gentlemen Mike Arroyo, who were linked to the poll fraud.

“Who was then close to GMA and Mike Arroyo… isn’t it the family in Taguig?” the Comelec chairman said, referring to the Cayetanos’ home turf where Alan Peter’s wife, Lani, is now the mayor.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chairman of the Senate committee on electoral reforms, had to suspend the hearing three times to let the two feuding officials cool down, but to no avail.

The Comelec chairman vented his anger as he was invited as resource person of the Senate committee that tackled anew the “Hello, Garci” scandal, following the lapse of the prescription period for the filing of cases in connection with the 2004 election fraud.

The “Hello, Garci” controversy involves President Arroyo’s alleged taped telephone conversations with former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to supposedly commit fraud during the 2004 presidential elections.

Brillantes questioned Cayetano for raising doubts on his credibility, destroying him by airing suspicion that he is laying the groundwork to ensure the victory of the administration bet in the 2016 polls.

“I am retiring in eight months,” Brillantes said, saying he is tired of politicking and would in no way be doing anything to prepare for the 2016 polls, since it is a year and a half after his retirement.

Brillantes denied he was orchestrating the “Hello, Garci” operations.

At one point during the hearing, Brillantes answered Cayetano’s comment that there was something suspicious in the number of politicians who visit Brillantes in his office, as evidenced by the guest logbooks.

Brillantes said there was nothing wrong with meeting people in his office in his capa-city as Comelec chairman.

What is wrong, Brillantes pointed out, is when the senator summons him to the Senate and demands that the Comelec not get the ballot boxes that are subject of the election protest against his wife, Lani, during the Taguig City polls in 2010.

At yesterday’s hearing, Cayetano again took Brillantes to task, questioning him on the reforms he supposedly failed to do as Comelec chairman despite a commitment made to lawmakers when they confirmed him at the Commission on Appointments (CA) three years ago.

Brillantes said that he has instituted reforms through the years, including minimizing cash advances even before he was confirmed.

He said the constitutional mandate is to provide a report to the congressional committees on the results of the national elections, not to report to senator/s.

“As I have made the commitment to the CA, I expected that Sen. Cayetano will call me and ask me about the reforms,” but he did not, said Brillantes.

Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero, who were also at the hearing, did not join in the verbal tussle.

Brillantes, election lawyer of the late Fernando Poe Jr., took exception to Cayetano’s insinuations before the plenary that he was a “Garcillano in disguise” because he promoted commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and other commissioners involved in the “Hello, Garci” scandal during his term.

Brillantes also belied Cayetano’s claims that he promoted the so-called Garci boys.

He admitted to promoting just one female commissioner, Helen Aguila Flores, as deputy executive director.

“She is not a Garci girl, you can call her a Brillantes girl, maybe,” he said, eliciting laughter from those at the hearing.