Mike Arroyo lawyer to Brillantes: Inhibit from poll fraud probe

The lawyer of Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo has called on Elections chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. to inhibit himself from the investigation into the alleged poll fraud that marred the 2007 elections. Lawyer Inocencio Ferrer issued the call on Thursday after Brillantes remarked that Mr. Arroyo and his wife, former President and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, could be imprisoned before Christmas for electoral sabotage. "As the Chairman of an independent constitutional body tasked with hearing cases involving election offenses, Chairman Brillantes must refrain from making statements on the guilt of the Arroyos who have not even been charged with any election offense," Ferrer said in a statement emailed to GMA News Online. "He must not prejudge any case. As a public officer, he must at all times respect the rights of others and not expose my client to public embarrassment and ridicule," Ferrer said. "He must shield the Comelec as an institution against political pressure to meet a deadline in filing cases against my client. Chairman Brillantes must be completely fair, evaluating each and every complaint with the cold neutrality of an impartial judge," he added. Ferrer cited the poll body chief’s “obligation to respect the rights of others, and… refrain from doing acts contrary to law, good morals, good customs, public policy, public order, public safety and public interest. (RA [Republic Act No.] 6173, Sec. 4c)." On Wednesday, Maguindanao Governor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu was quoted as saying that “Close si [former Maguindanao Provincial Administrator] Unas kay Brillantes. Kahit si Chairman Brillantes, naging abugado iyan dati ng mga Ampatuan." "If it is true that he was the former lawyer of FPJ [Fernando Poe Jr.] and the Ampatuans, then Chairman Brillantes is in a clear conflict of interest situation and he should refrain from even handling the complaints against the Arroyo couple. He must, instead, inhibit and disqualify himself directly or indirectly from even touching ANY election complaint against the Arroyos," said Ferrer. "Now that Atty. Brillantes is the chairman of an independent constitutional body with powers to hear and decide election cases, he must keep to himself his own personal opinions and biases," he added. Ferrer said the Comelec chairman should resign “if indeed he made those statements attributed to him" which “clearly show bias, prejudgment, clear conflict of interest as lawyer of [Fernando Poe Jr.] in 2004," as well as for preempting the collegial poll body’s decision. — MRT/RSJ, GMA News