Former commission on elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes shares his views on the pre-election scenarios at a forum in Quezon City. Photo By Mike De Juan
Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said even if an alleged plot by the Liberal Party to eliminate all rivals of its standard bearer succeeds, he still believes the Administration’s presidential bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd will not garner enough votes to be declared winner in next year’s elections.
“Even a nuisance candidate can win against Roxas,” Brillantes told reporters on Saturday in Quezon City.
He said Roxas’ rating is not only abysmal, he is also generally perceived as incompetent.
Brillantes gave his assessment of the 2016 presidential polls amid allegations the Administration was doing everything to eliminate all the strong presidential candidates to ensure a Roxas election victory.
Last week, the Second Division of the Commission on Elections disqualified Sen. Grace Poe from running as presidential candidate on the grounds that she came short of the 10-year residency requirement.
Lately, there have been reports that Vice President Jejomar Binay would be arrested and jailed in connection with the plunder charges filed against him at the Office of the Ombudsman.
There is also concern that Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte’s presidential run now faces obstacles because the presidential candidate of the PDP-Laban whom he replaced, Martin Diño, has indicated in his certificate of candidacy that he is running for mayor of Pasay City.
Brillantes said, however, the Administration will not succeed in disqualifying the other presidential candidates to clear the way for Roxas.
“They can disqualify Poe and Duterte, but they can’t eliminate Binay and even Sen. Miriam Santiago,” Brillantes said.
“Binay can still run even if he is in jail,” he added.
Brillantes said he does not believe that Roxas will continue the Aquino Administration’s “Daang Matuwid” program despite the repeated statements of the President that Roxas will not deviate from the incumbent administration’s advocacy.
“I’m sure he will not pursue that Daang Matuwid. He has a different agenda,” the 76-year-old election lawyer said. He did not elaborate.