Set as home page
01/28/2012
Questions surrounding how “untouchable or indispensable” Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas is to the Aquino administration were finally resolved with the continued defiance of the Akbayan activist to answer calls from the media and the Palace’s cluelessness on his whereabouts.
Not even deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte succeeded in contacting Llamas, who had earlier been caught on camera while buying pirated DVDs in a Quezon City mall.
In a text message to the Tribune, Valte said: “I haven’t been able to reach him”, apparently referring to calls she made to Llamas’ mobile contact number.
She however confirmed that Llamas reported to his office yesterday as confirmed by the presidential adviser’s staff.
Tribune likewise checked whether Llamas has applied or gone on leave but records showed that he has not. The same was confirmed by Valte. “Secfetary Llamas has not gone on leave”.
When asked on whether it is proper, Valte said: if you ask us, it’s more for setting the record straight that technically, there was no crime committed. However, when it comes to the behavior, — that is a different thing”.
The deputy presidential spokesman reiterated that the government remains firm in its fight against piracy. She also said that the Palace isn’t condoning the act.
“I believe that the responses to the incident are more of what they think should not have happened and it was not that piracy is being encouraged or rather being condoned. So we will ask the OMB why such statement was issued perhaps, merely to clarify several questions that have also been posed to them”.
The Optical Media Board earlier said that anti-piracy law spares individuals from buying pirated copies of the DVD if the purchase is for personal use or the quantity is eight or below. Llamas however bought a lot more than eight, P 2,000 worth of pirated DVDs, as per newspaper reports published few days ago.
Despite the OMB statement on sanctions on those caught buying DVDs, Valte hinted that Llamas has not committed any legal violation.
“Well, I am not—sorry, I do not know how many were allegedly bought. I do not know also the intricacies of the statement of the OMB. From my own understanding, there is no crime insofar as the buyer is concerned. The thrust of the anti-piracy effort really is to go after the producers, the ones who bring it in, the ones who copy and the ones who distribute,” she said.