Brillantes maintains no irregularity in ousting Maliksi

Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –Emmanuel Maliksi was apparently trying to save face when he questioned the validity of the order of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) unseating him as Imus, Cavite mayor.

Maliksi refused to accept the Comelec’s order alleging that the writ of execution should have been signed by the entire Comelec en banc.

Only Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes’ signature and that of the clerk of court appeared on the order.

“Gagawa syempre ng rason para tumagal (Of course he will make up reasons in order to stay in office),” Brillantes told reporters Tuesday to dispute Maliksi’s allegation.

Maliksi was served the writ of execution Monday ordering him to step down as mayor so that Homer Saquilayan can assume office.

The Comelec order was based on the decision of the Supreme Court that ruled that Saquilayan was the duly elected mayor of Imus.

“It is very common that I issue writ of executions for the commission,” Brillantes explained.

“It’s just a technicality that he is trying to raise. He is also saying that the writ was signed Friday but that there was no en banc session on that day,” he said.

The Comelec en banc held a hearing the whole day regarding disqualification cases of three partylist groups for violating campaign rules, Brillantes said.

Maliksi said that he had already filed a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court that declared Saquilayan as the duly elected mayor.