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Brillantes asks former law partners to drop cases before Comelec


Newly appointed Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., whose appointment is under fire, has "strongly suggested" to his former law partners to withdraw their cases that are pending before the poll body. "I’m trying to convince my former partners to close all cases here," Brillantes told reporters in an interview Tuesday, his second day in office after taking his oath last Sunday. Brillantes’ appointment has been met with criticisms, with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano even threatening to block his confirmation before the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA), the congressional body that approves or rejects presidential appointments to certain government positions. Brillantes said his former law firm, Brillantes, Nachura, Navarro, Jumamil & Arcilla Law Offices, has 23 pending protests before the Comelec. Among their known clients are Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Dante Tinga. He said his position as Comelec chief will not put his former partners in an advantageous position if ever they appear before the Comelec.


“Talk to the individual clients kung makakakita sila ng kapalit, pwede wag na kayo (I told them to talk to the individual clients and ask them if they could replace us as their counsel)," Brillantes said. However, he conceded that the decision to withdraw the cases does not rely on him. “It’s not my decision anymore; it was just a very strong suggestion." “Di ko na kayang kontrolin ang (I can’t control the) law office," added Brillantes. He said he will meet with his former partners before the end of the week. Should the cases remain, he said he will inhibit from any case where he is directly involved. Brillantes said he did not ask his partners to withdraw their cases pending before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal and the Regional Trial Courts. From 1978 to 1986, Brillantes served as legal counsel of the Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. Group of Companies. Cojuangco ran during the 1992 presidential elections but lost. In 1986, Brillantes became the managing director at the Brillantes, Nachura, Navarro, Jumamil & Arcilla Law Offices and went on to become a senior partner in his law firm. He served as the general counsel of the political party Nationalist People’s Coalition, which Cojuangco heads as chairman emeritus, from 2001 to 2006. Since 2006, he has been a legal consultant of the United Opposition, which was created by Vice President Jejomar Binay to unite all politicians against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Brillantes has also served as the election lawyer of President Benigno Aquino III in the May 10, 2010 elections. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV
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