Cayetano accuses poll body chief of blackmail

source: gma

Senate Minority Floor Leader Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday accused Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes of attempting to make a deal with him in exchange for his smooth sailing in the Commission on Appointments (CA).


Cayetano, a CA member, said Brillantes sent five to seven election lawyers, high-ranking officials, and lawmakers, both from the Senate and House of Representatives, to persuade him to meet with him regarding his appointment.

He said when he repeatedly refused to meet with Brillantes, the Comelec chairman allegedly relayed that he would "take care" of the election protest involving his wife, Taguig Mayor Laarni Cayetano, in exchange for the confirmation.

"He is trying to blackmail a member of the CA who is critical of his appointment. Nung unang offer bahala na daw siya sa kaso ng wife ko, wag mag-alala, ma-confirm lang (His first offer was that he will take care of my wife's case as long he is confirmed)," Cayetano said at a press conference in Pasay City on Monday.

Brillantes denies

Sought for comment, Brillantes denied that he sent people to make any offer to Cayetano. "I never sent any intermediary to him," he told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

He, however, admitted that he wanted to meet with Cayetano to explain whatever misconceptions he had about him. He said he eventually realized that the senator did not want to talk to him.

He likewise said that his appointment is a totally separate matter with the case of Mayor Cayetano. "I have never involved myself in the Taguig case ever since I was appointed (as Comelec chairman)."

Brillantes served as counsel to retired Associate Justice Dante Tinga, who filed an electoral protest against Cayetano's wife for supposedly cheating in the May 2010 elections.

Not a cheater

But according to Cayetano, Brillantes specifically stated that he would even suggest a way wherein the contested ballot boxes in his wife's case would not be seized by the Comelec.

Cayetano said he refused the offer because his wife did not cheat in last year's elections. He also said there was no issue about the collection of the ballot boxes because there were other cases before them pending with the Comelec.

Last week, the Comelec issued an order asking for the immediate retrieval of the ballot boxes.

Cayetano, who chairs the Senate ethics committee, said that he will be writing to the CA to ask for a "full investigation and decisive action" on Brillantes's supposed bribery and blackmail attempts.

"No member of the CA should be subject to intimidation, harassment, blackmail. (But) I'm submitting the letter because I think this is beyond the confirmation. I think the Palace should look into it," he said.

Cayetano said if it is proven that Brillantes is guilty of his accusations, he should be punished not only by the CA but also by the court. "If it's proven correct, not only should the Palace act on it, not only should the CA reject (his appointment), criminal charges should be filed (against him)," he said.

He likewise said that he will divulge the names of the other people involved when it is necessary. "If they require me to name names, I will cooperate."

source: gma