Lacson accepts apology from Brillantes

Senator Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— Elections chairman  Sixto Brillantes Jr. has apologized to Senator Panfilo Lacson for not attending  Tuesday’s hearing in the Senate and the senator  accepted the apology.

“I thanked him for his sorry (sent through) SMS,” Lacson said in a text message on Wednesday. SMS stands for short messaging system.

“I also explained to him that while I commended him for reforming the partylist system, the Senate has also the right to ask policy questions regarding the issue without questioning their collegial decision to disqualify or not,” he added.

Lacson  on Tuesday called  Brillantes “arrogant” after the latter failed to attend  the Senate committee on electoral reforms’ hearing on  partylist system and anti-political dynasty  bills.

Lacson calls Brillantes ‘arrogant’

“I have high respect for the good Senator Lacson and I never had the slightest intention to snub the Senate hearing,”   the poll chief said on his Twitter account.

“If Senator Lacson perceived my non-appearance as arrogance, I humbly apologize—but that was never my intention,” he further said.