Ex-Frontman
In 2013, COMELEC Chair Sixto Brillantes was busy selling senatorial and party list seats to the highest bidder. He was also the syndicate's front man, prior to Andy Bautista.
The bidding was not only confined to the national level. It was nationwide. Down to the regional and municipal levels. Victory was for sale. They were basing it on surveys as well. If you're in a tight race, COMELEC and Smartmatic will guarantee your win - for the right price of course. Nuisance candidates and those who did not have money from the get go were most likely ignored.
Brokers and agents were sent by the syndicate surreptitiously to make offers to particular candidates. Even strong candidates were forced to make a bid, otherwise they might suffer an upset. And they could be beaten by their closest contenders.
Brillantes himself personally made a killing selling party list seats. His group had the power to decide how many nominees from each party list group get to be proclaimed. COMELEC was a marketplace, and secret deals were brokered inside its offices and in random coffee shops.
A lot of people knew. Brokers were everywhere. But nobody dared speak out.
Part 1: Of Moles and Sado-Masochists August 15, 2017 3:00 PM
