Election lawyer says no offer to replace Melo

MANILA, Philippines - Election lawyer Sixto Brillantes yesterday clarified he was not offered an appointment to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) possibly as the next elections chief.

Brillantes though admitted he does not rule out the possibility of being appointed to be the next Comelec chief to replace Jose Melo who is set to retire next month.

Brillantes, election lawyer of President Aquino during the May 10 elections, is among those whose names are being floated as the next Comelec chief.

But he stressed he would “never work” to get the position.

“I don’t know where it is coming from but there is no offer,” Brillantes said.

According to Brillantes, Aquino expressed his intention to have him appointed to the Comelec as a commissioner with the impending retirement of Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer and Gregorio Larrazabal on Feb. 1 next year.

Brillantes said he made it known to the President that he was not interested to become a Comelec commissioner.

Another prominent election lawyer, Romulo Macalintal is also being floated as Melo’s successor as Comelec chief.

Macalintal, who gained prominence as lawyer of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said he was surprised by the reports.

“I’m really surprised but there is no offer... I’ll cross the bridge when I get there,” he said.

Macalintal also counseled for Aquino when he first ran as congressman of Tarlac in 1998.

Macalintal said he would have to think about the offer thoroughly. He said he prefers practicing election law outside the Comelec rather than as an official.

According to Macalintal, he even turned down offers of Arroyo to join her Cabinet or other government institutions because he liked practicing law more.