Elections chief Brillantes asks for birthday gift: CA’s nod

MANILA, Philippines—Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes might have to wait for his birthday in August to get the nod of the powerful Commission on Appointments.

But for now, Brillantes will have to be content with being reappointed by President Benigno Aquino III after he failed to get the approval of the commission’s committee on constitutional commissions and offices on Wednesday, Congress’ last day of session before it goes on sine die adjournment this week.

“Sana naman maawa na sila sa akin (How I wish they would take pity on me). My birthday is on August 14 and it (confirmation hearing) was set for August 9 and 10; I hope I will be confirmed. Sana maganda-ganda naman ’yong birthday gift ko (I hope I’ll get a nice birthday gift),” Brillantes told reporters after the hearing.

He waited for two hours for the start of the hearing shortly before 12 noon. Brillantes was greeted by the intense questioning of Senate Minority Leader Alan Cayetano.

Cayetano peppered Brillantes with questions regarding his own claim when he was still an election lawyer that there were “election operators” in the Commission on Elections.

The senator even played during the hearing a televised interview of Brillantes wherein he mentioned some notorious officials in the poll body.

Brillantes stuck to his claim but refused to identify the officials.

He also confirmed that he knew some election operators but said they were not from the Comelec.

“Meron ho akong kilala. Merong sinasabi na sila raw ay hinahire para mag galaw ng balota…yung mga operators taga labas ho ’yan (I know some election operators who say that they are being hired to manipulate ballots…these operators are outsiders),” Brillantes said.