While insisting there isn’t anyone in the Aquino administration that would fall under the title of “indispensable and untouchable,” Malacañang is not about to dump presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas over his most recent blunder where he was caught on camera reportedly patronizing pirated products.
“It would be up to him to resign,” a top Palace official said.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, at a press briefing, would not categorically make a statement as to how President Aquino or other Malacañang officials felt amid the “embarrassment” that Llamas has inflicted on the Palace.
If there’s a consolation though, Lacierda said an internal investigation would ensue immediately after the President meets with Llamas.
He also said that Llamas would be made to explain his side on the matter.
As to how “untouchable” Llamas is, Lacierda said the presidential adviser on political affairs is not indispensable.
“In fact, none of us in the government could be considered as un-touchable or indis-pensible,” Lacierda was quoted as saying.
Lacierda, however, reiterated the government’s position in its drive against piracy even as he shrugged off adverse effects on the Optical Media Board’s campaign.
Llamas was seen buying pirated DVDs reportedly worth P2,000 from a Quezon City mall.
Various sectors have since been calling for Llamas’ resignation but Malacañang does not seem inclined to compel the political adviser to quit, saying it is leaving the matter up to him whether or not to heed calls to resign.
Lacierda also noted that there isn’t any law that punishes buyers of pirated products.
When asked to comment on Aquino’s reaction on Llamas’ latest blunder, the Palace spokesman said the Chief Executive was taken out of context when he said that “DVD issue on Secretary Llamas is the least of his priorities amid what he described as a season that is filled with other concerns requiring government attention.”
Aquino was earlier quoted as saying: “Sorry if the DVD issue would come as the least of my priorities today. We have other problems like that of the Makati blast, the killing of the 15 fishermen in Basilan plus that of the adverse effects of the escalating situation at the Strait of Hormuz.”
He clarified that what the President meant was that the lesser priority is a Palace inquiry amid other bigger concerns — and not the piracy issue.
A Tribune source, meanwhile, said Aquino won’t dump Llamas especially in the heat of the impeachment trial against Chief Justice Renato Corona because he is the President’s chief operator in the ongoing operation to ensure success in the administration’s bid to unseat the chief magistrate.
“Llamas enjoys the full and complete protection of Aquino especially at this time when he and his Akbayan and other organizations under its wing are badly needed to ensure that Corona is unseated even in the event that he is cleared by the Senate,” a Tribune source said.
The source had earlier revealed to the Tribune that the Palace has no plans of abiding by the Senate which is now convened as an impeachment tribunal if the trial would lead to his acquittal.
Using Llamas’ Akbayan and other so-called civil society groups, Aquino plans to mobilize massive rallies patterned after the “Occupy Wall Street” demonstrations in order to force the resignation of Corona, the Tribune source said.
“Llamas is the President’s ace in his battle against Corona. That’s the reason Llamas is invincible at this time. The President needs him and his organization just to make sure that he gets what he wants,” the source said.
Sometime last year, Llamas likewise took center stage when his SUV, being driven by an aide, yielded high-powered assault rifles at the height of a vehicular accident investigation despite existing firearms regulations that only law enforcement personnel in proper uniform are allowed to bring along high powered rifles.
But instead of getting a mouthful from Aquino who had promised the people a transparent and accountable government, Malacañang even hosted a press conference so that Llamas can explain himself despite his obvious disregard for existing laws.
Police cleared Llamas of any criminal liability but charged his security escorts with illegal possession of firearms.
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