Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. passed away on Tuesday days before his 81st birthday on August 14.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez confirmed the passing of Brillantes to reporters.
"This is to confirm the passing of former Chairperson Sixto S. Brillantes Jr., today at a little past 11AM," he said in a statement.
In a radio interview, Jimenez said Brillantes had been suffering from COVID-19.
"While we don't have the exact cause of death yet, we can safely assume that it's COVID-related," he said.
Lawyer Emil Marañon also posted about the death of Brillantes in his Twitter account.
"My boss and former Comelec Chair Sixto S. Brillantes Jr. passed away at 11:08 a.m. today. What a great honor to serve the country by your side. Maraming salamat!" he said.
Last July 26, Marañon, Brillantes' former chief of staff at the poll body, revealed that the former poll chief has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Brillantes' daughter, Zeena, at that time also asked for prayers for her 80-year old father.
"Someone recently told me that prayers are better when they are specific. Please include our dad, Sixto Brillantes Jr., in your prayers. Please," she said in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, the Comelec expressed sadness over the death of Brillantes who successfully guided the conduct of the 2013 national and local elections.
The poll body in a statement said Brillantes was also instrumental in establishing many of the transparency measures for automated elections that are still in use today such as the Local Source Code Review.
"He was a dedicated advocate for electoral management reform, strengthening and empowering the Campaign Finance Office which, to this day, vigorously pursues its mandate to hold candidates accountable for their campaign spending," read the statement.
As a staunch defender of the integrity of the Comelec, the poll body said, Chairman Brillantes zealously went after those who sought to undermine public confidence in the electoral system, sanctioning actions that would bring violators of election laws to justice.
The poll body said within the Comelec, Chairman Brillantes kept a strict eye out for malfeasance and – with neither fear nor favor – "cleaned house.’"
A known election lawyer, Brillantes served as head of the Comelec from January, 2011, to February, 2015.
He was appointed as Comelec chairman by then President Benigno Aquino III.