Palace concerned with accusations vs Comelec chief

04/05/2011 | 09:24 PM

Malacañang on Tuesday expressed concern over the accusation hurled against Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes, but said it will not ask the poll body chief for an explanation.

“We’re concerned about accusations that are made against people we appoint, so certainly we’re watching the situation," said Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, at a press briefing.

He said since Comelec is an independent body, Brillantes “doesn’t necessarily have to formally give us an explanation."

On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano accused Brillantes of blackmailing him in exchange for his smooth sailing in the Commission on Appointments (CA).

According to Cayetano, Brillantes, through intermediaries, offered to “take care" of the election protest against his wife, Taguig Mayor Laarni Cayetano, in exchange for Brillantes' confirmation.

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

Carandang said everyone who is accused has the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. “So we hope that all of these matters will be cleared up during the Commission on Appointments hearings," he said.

Carandang said he hopes Cayetano would raise his concerns before CA as it is the proper venue for it. “If Sen. Cayetano intends to raise those questions before the CA then the proper place to address them for Chairman Brillantes would also be the CA," he said.

Carandang did not comment when asked on how confident Malacañang is that Brillantes would get the nod of the CA. He, however, said he believes the accusation will not affect the performance of the Comelec.