MANILA, Philippines — Atty. Romulo Macalintal remembered his fellow veteran election lawyer and former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson Sixto “Boy” Brillantes Jr., who passed away on Tuesday – days before his 81st birthday.
In a statement, Macalintal said that Brillantes was “the most knowledgeable and competent Comelec chairman to ever handle and run the poll body under an automated election system.”
Brillantes was named Comelec chief by former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino in January 2011.
According to Macalintal, Aquino was supposed to appoint him as head of Comelec but turned it down.
“I politely declined the appointment and instead recommended Boy to the position knowing that he had more experience and capability to handle the position,” Macalintal said of his friend. “And I was proven right.”
Macalintal also looked back on how he and Brillantes, who was a Bar topnotch and certified public accountant, both started as election lawyers in 1984.
“Since then we have become good friends in and outside the courts without compromising the interests of our respective clients,” he said.
“Boy was a very dedicated law practitioner,” Macalintal also said. “He would be typing his pleadings direct to the typewriter, in the ‘80s and later to his laptop computer. He was always prepared to argue his client’s cause as shown by the outline of his arguments in his own handwriting.”
Brillantes’ passing was first confirmed by Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.
READ: Former Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr dies at 80
The 80-year-old former Comelec chairman was previously reported being intubated at the Medical Center Manila after he tested positive for the coronavirus.