Sixto Brillantes

Sixto Serrano Brillantes Jr. (, August 14, 1939 – August 11, 2020) was a Filipino election lawyer who was the chairman of the Commission on Elections from 2011 to 2015. He was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III on January 16, 2011, to serve the unexpired term of Chairman Jose Melo.

Early life and education Brillantes was born in Santa, Ilocos Sur on August 14, 1939, to Sixto P. Brillantes Sr., a former Governor and assemblyman of Ilocos Sur, and Azucena Serrano. He has four siblings including former Labor Secretary and Ambassador to Canada Jose Brillantes.

He studied at Saint Theresa's College of San Marcelino, Manila, and Ateneo de Manila University for grade school and then San Beda College for high-school and college, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree in 1960 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1965. While a law student, Brillantes was president of the San Beda College of Law Supreme Law Council and editor-in-chief of the San Beda College of Law Journal. He passed the CPA examinations in 1960 and then placed seventh in the 1965 bar examinations. as chairman of the COMELEC on January 16, 2011. He resigned as an election lawyer following his appointment and said: “Marami ang nakakakilala sa akin, and for the last 20 years, ako ho ang humahabol sa mga operator. (People already know me, and for the last 20 years, I'm the one chasing the cheaters)”. Some quarters had criticized Brillantes fearing that he may not be an objective COMELEC chief, having served popular clients such as former President Joseph Estrada and the Ampatuan family. During this time, COMELEC's legal department chief accused him of corruption while Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was vetoing his confirmation.

Personal life and death Brillantes married Francisca Verde, a nutritionist-dietician, in 1970 and had three children. Prior to this, he was confined at the Medical Center Manila on July 18, and was intubated on July 25. He died on August 11, 2020, three days before his 81st birthday.