Comelec chief may help Grace Poe in 2016

Brillantes wants De Lima, Henares as successor

MANILA, Philippines - Retiring Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said on Wednesday that he could be a consultant to a presidential candidate in 2016.

In an interview on ANC's Headstart, Brillantes said he will be allowed to practice election law again by February 2016. He will be retiring as Comelec chief on February 2.

"If any presidential candidate would like to get some advice, I could probably give some advice," the poll official said.

Brillantes, who was Fernando Poe Jr.'s election lawyer in the 2004 elections, said he may join Sen. Grace Poe if she decides to run for president.

"If she runs in 2016, I will probably assist or help," he said.

Brillantes is retiring amid allegations that the poll body entered into a midnight deal with Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. for the refurbishment of the more than 80,000 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.

Despite the accusations of election rigging, Brillantes believes that the Comelec was able to clean up its ranks under his leadership

"We were able to move out some people who have some bad records," Brillantes said.

"That's why I'm praying that somebody who will replace me will be able to continue [cleansing the Comelec]," he added.

Brillantes wants his preferred successor to be a "young brave woman." He said Justice Secretary Leila De Lima is more than qualified for the job since she was an election lawyer.

"If there is anybody who is the best that should replace me, it's Leila," he said.

The Comelec chief also mentioned Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares as his possible successor.

He is also okay with Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino or Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Winston Ginez as the next Comelec chief.

"They can qualify as chairman and they can also be appointed there as commissioner," Brillantes said.