Cayetano denies being critical to Comelec

MANILA -- Senator Alan Peter Cayetano denied Friday that he is the most vocal critic of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) even with his repeated clash with Chairman Sixto Brillantes.

Cayetano, who is seeking for reelection in the 2013 midterm elections, said he is criticizing only certain individuals he believes who are giving the commission a bad name.

"I'd like to be known as the champion of the Comelec rather than the harshest critic. I am critical of certain officials of the Comelec, including Chairman Brillantes. And this is issue based," said Cayetano as he formalized Friday his reelection bid before the Comelec.

Cayetano said he believes that there are only a few bad apples in the commission contrary to belief that he is overly critical of the body.

"For the record, 85 to 90 to 95 percent of the Comelec are good people," he said.

Cayetano had repeatedly accused Brillantes of not doing anything on issues, such as, the resolution of the "Hello Garci" scandal of 2004, referring to the alleged wiretapped conversation of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then Comelec commission Virgilio Garcillano.

Also, in 2007, the Comelec had also initially allowed Joselito Pepito Cayetano to run for senator with the Nacionalista Party (NP) stalwart accusing the former of being a nuisance candidate that is out to confuse the voters.

Cayetano was the last member of the Liberal Party (LP) coalition to file his COC for senator on Friday.

In filing his COC, he was accompanied by his wife, Taguig Mayor Maria Laarni Cayetano, as well as several supporters wearing a red polo shirt. (HDT/Sunnex)