Senator Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that COMELEC Chairman Brillantes tried to blackmail him

SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday claimed that Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes tried to blackmail him in his desire to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

Cayetano, an ex-officio member of the CA, said Brillantes promised to resolve the election protest in Taguig in favor of his wife, Mayor Lani Cayetano, whose victory is being contested by retired Supreme Court Justice Dante Tinga. Tinga’s son, Rep. Fredie Tinga, was a former client of Brillantes.

“Nung narinig ni Chairman o napanood ni Chairman Brillantes ang mga comment ko quoting media groups and quoting election watchdogs na siya’y isang election operator, nagpadala siya sa akin ng mga kakausap sa akin. High ranking officials both from the executive and legislative branches from both Houses (of Congress) at mga lawyers, election lawyers at ang unang inaalok sa akin, siya na raw bahala sa kaso ng aking asawa,” the senator said.

Cayetano said Brillantes tapped several congressmen and lawyers in his attempt to get an audience with him. He said he will name these emissaries “in the proper forum.”

“Hindi ako puwedeng makipag-usap at hindi puwedeng makipag-meet dahil sinabi ko na sa Senate media na mako-compromise ako at ang matter na pag-uusapan ay pang public so hindi dapat private ang meeting,” he added.

“So it’s very obvious that he is trying to blackmail a member of the Commission on Appointments who is critical of his appointment. Ginagamit nila iyong protest case ng aking asawa and I reiterate na wala akong kailangan na tulong sa kanila. Number 44 ang kaso niya (Mayor Lani). Nag-uumpisa pa lang ang number 1. Dun sa 2nd division kung nasaan ang kaso niya, she’s Number 14 o Number 17, pilit nilang ginagawang Number 4. Mayroong anim o walo na nauna sa kanya na gustong ibigay na ang ballot box pero ayaw nilang kunin. Pero sa kanya gustong kunin,” he stressed.

Cayetano is set to submit to the CA a letter-complaint to the CA.

“No member of the CA should be subject to intimidation, harassment, blackmail. So, I think mas malaking issue ito. At I think the Palace should look into it,” he added.

“Nuong unang offer bahala na daw siya sa kaso ng wife ko. H’wag mag-alala, ma-confirm lang (siya). That’s not the issue here. Hindi ako makakatulog sa gabi kung i-aapprove kita yun ang pinalit dahil ilang beses ako naging biktima nun,” Cayetano said.

“All this time, ‘yung naramdaman ko na bina-blackmail ako siguro itong last two weeks. Hindi na nga issue ang pagkuha ng ballot box dahil ang haba ng pila. So, nagulat ako nung lumapit ‘yung isang lawyer para sabihin na eto suggestion ni chairman (Brillantes) para hindi makuha ang ballot boxes,” he said.

“So hindi sila tumigil. The next time may lumapit sa akin ang sinabi na gusto niya linisin ang Comelec. Sabi ko oobserbahan kita pero hindi muna ako papayag sa confirmation.”

“May pinapuntang lawyer sa akin at sinabing meron siyang remedyo pero kailangang personal siyang magsabi at upuan daw siya. He’s blackmailing me to sit down with him and then to commit sa kanya. I don’t even want to put myself in a situation that I have to do that,” Cayetano said.

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