Malacañang has offered its condolences to the family of the late former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr.
Brillantes, who served as head of the poll body from 2011 to 2015, passed away Tuesday. He was 80.
“We condole with the family of chair Brillantes,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during a televised press briefing from Davao City.
"He served the nation well when he was chairman of Comelec," Roque said.
Brillantes was appointed as Comelec chairman by then President Benigno Aquino III. Two weeks ago, he was reportedly diagnosed with the coronavirus illness.
Meanwhile, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said he is “deeply saddened” over the passing of Brillantes.
"We express our sincerest condolences to the family, relatives, friends and admirers of Atty. Brillantes. As the legal profession has lost one of its luminous members today, we pray that the perpetual light will shine upon his soul and that he may rest in eternal peace,” Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo noted that Brillantes, a San Beda College of Law graduate, began his career as a legal researcher in the Court of Appeals. He later served as a legal consultant in the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Bureau of Domestic Trade.
Brillantes also established his own law firm and became a legal counsel of the Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. Group of Companies and general counsel of the Nationalist People's Coalition.
"In addition to being a sought after election lawyer with notable presidential candidates in the past as clients, he was also a professor in Arellano Law Foundation, Perpetual Help College and San Beda College of Law,” Panelo said.