Comelec chief Brillantes fails anew to get CA nod

MANILA, Philippines—Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes has again failed to get the confirmation of the powerful Commissions on Appointments.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes. JESS YUSON/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

Brillantes’ nomination was blocked by the former head of the Comelec’s legal department, Director Ferdinand Rafanan, who filed an affidavit against him during the confirmation hearing of the CA committee on constitutional commission and offices on Wednesday.

In his affidavit, Rafanan accused the nominee of violating the anti-graft and corrupt practices act, favoring those involved in the P690 million ballot secrecy folder scam, and illegally removing and transferring him to the Joint Comelec-DOJ committee, which was created to investigate the alleged poll fraud in 2004, among others.

But several members of the Commission, including its chairman, Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, opposed Rafanan’s affidavit.

“This case has been published since April. April, May, June, July, August, fifth month now? If he’s going to hold us up today by filing an affidavit and he’s not here, that means that this is a subterfuge, a machination to impede the work of this Commission,” Enrile said.

“Personally, I’m voicing my position. I’m not in favor of it,” he added.

The affidavit was only filed in the committee at around 10:00 am Wednesday, said Senator Jose “Jinngoy” Estrada, who presided over the hearing.

Despite opposition by some members, the committee later agreed to accept Rafanan’s affidavit.

The hearing, which started at 10:00 am, was suspended after almost four hours without voting on Brillantes’ nomination. It would resume its hearing on September 21.