Brillantes to argue source code case before SC

MANILA, Philippines — Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr will himself face the Supreme Court on Thursday, May 9, to argue on behalf of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the case that seeks to force the poll body to obtain the source code for this year’s elections from software owners and to open it for review by local groups.

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Senatorial candidate Richard Gordon filed a petition before the SC on Friday, May 3, asking it to force the Comelec to get the 2013 source code and allow interested groups to review it.

Brillantes dismissed comments by critics that the arrival of the 2013 source code was too little, too late.

“Importante na merong source code para pagkatapos ng eleksyon, makikita natin kung may mali,” he said. (It is important that we have the source code so that after the election, we can see if something went wrong.)

“Pagkatapos ng eleksyon, pag sabihin nilang may nangyari, then there is the source code for them to review,” he added. (After the election, if they say something happened, then there is the source code for them to review.)

“Pag walang mangyari, review-hin pa rin nila ang source code para makita nila na tama lahat,” he said. (If nothing happens, they should still review the sourcecode to see that everything’s correct.)

“I’d also like to face the Supreme Court so that we can thresh out some of the statements I have given in the past,” Brillantes told reporters. “Siguro ay mag-a-apologize lang ako for statements that I’ve said—that I would resign, na hindi tama ang sinasabi nila.” (I think I will just apologize for statements that I’ve said—that I would resign, that what they’re saying is wrong.)