Poll body chief rushed to hospital after fainting

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. was rushed to the hospital late Wednesday after fainting at the poll body's main office in Intramuros, Manila. In a phone interview, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told GMA News Online that Brillantes was rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital at around 6:30 p.m. after he fainted in his office. "Ngayon conscious na siya, inoobserbahan na lang (He is now conscious and is under observation)," Jimenez said.

He said they are still awaiting test results but that the doctor's initial impression was that the cause for the incident was gastrointestinal-related. "Maybe something he ate, he's now stable," Jimenez said in a separate text message. Jimenez said Brillantes is being accompanied by his staff and family at the hospital. Brillantes, who served as President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s legal counsel in the May 10 elections, assumed his post as Comelec chairman last January. He replaced Jose Melo, who was supposed to retire in 2015. Brillantes will serve the unexpired term of Melo. - KBK, GMANews.TV