PNoy: Anti-piracy drive not govt's No. 1 priority for now
Amid reports his political adviser Ronald Llamas was seen buying pirated video discs, President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said anti-piracy is not among government’s top priorities for now.
Aquino told reporters there are several pressing issues he is handling at the monent.
“Pasensiya na kayo kung hindi yan ang number one sa priority ko dahil merong Makati [City} bomb blast, meron pong nagpatayan na mga mangingisda, merong problema sa Iran,” the President said after inspecting a model house in Iligan City for the victims of Tropical Storm Sendong that swept through northern Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas in December last year.
“Alam nyo naman yung dami ng problema natin, yung DVD (digital versatile disc) medyo mababa-baba nang konti sa priority natin,” he added.
Aquino further said that he would first ask Llamas what he was doing in the mall at the time a newspaper editor supposedly saw Llamas buying pirated DVDs.
Moreover, Aquino said Llamas should be given due process.
“Yung unang-una tatanungin ko muna kung ano actually ang ginagawa niya doon dahil yung litratong nakita ko sa Inquirer kanina parang me dinadaanan siya hindi ko naman alam kung DVD, I assume they are DVDs,” he said.
“Me dadaanan tayong proseso, tanungin ko muna... siya [Llamas] 'Ito ang accusations sa iyo, ano ang sagot mo'," the President said.
“Tapos muna dun tutungo tayo sa kaukulang nakalagay na rules, regulation pero me process na dapat daanan,” he added.
GMA News Online tried to get the comment of Llamas on the incident but to no avail.
Presidential spokespersons Edwin Lacierda and Abigail Valte were also yet to comment on the issue.
Optical Media Board head Ronnie Ricketts said he will seek a meeting with Llamas in an attempt to "reach out" him in the spirit of "dialogue."
"Nakalulungkot, pero... we'll reach out to him. Sana suportahan ang kampanya namin laban sa piracy," Ricketts said in an interview on dzBB radio Wednesday morning.
Firearms controversy
In October last year, Aquino also came to the defense of Llamas who was criticized for possessing an AK-47 assault rifle.
"After the evaluation, it was determined that there was a very real threat on him (Llamas)," Aquino told members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in a forum in Makati City amid the firearms issue.
"He is involved in so many negotiations... There are people who would not want these negotiations to prosper," Aquino added.
Also at the Makati forum, Aquino said the right to self-defense is enshrined in the 1987 Constitution "and even to the Churches that we belong to."
"There are people allegedly trailing his children. There were people sighted in the vicinity of their house that were not identified," Aquino added.
Llamas’ AK-47 was discovered when his vehicle figured in an accident in Quezon City while he was attending a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
Aside from the AK-47, Llamas, who was Aquino's "kabarilan" (practice shooting buddy), also owns an M-16 rifle and three short firearms. All the firearms are covered by both license and permits to carry.
Llamas then expressed readiness to resign but only if Aquino would ask him to. — LBG, GMA News
Aquino told reporters there are several pressing issues he is handling at the monent.
“Pasensiya na kayo kung hindi yan ang number one sa priority ko dahil merong Makati [City} bomb blast, meron pong nagpatayan na mga mangingisda, merong problema sa Iran,” the President said after inspecting a model house in Iligan City for the victims of Tropical Storm Sendong that swept through northern Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas in December last year.
“Alam nyo naman yung dami ng problema natin, yung DVD (digital versatile disc) medyo mababa-baba nang konti sa priority natin,” he added.
Aquino further said that he would first ask Llamas what he was doing in the mall at the time a newspaper editor supposedly saw Llamas buying pirated DVDs.
Moreover, Aquino said Llamas should be given due process.
“Yung unang-una tatanungin ko muna kung ano actually ang ginagawa niya doon dahil yung litratong nakita ko sa Inquirer kanina parang me dinadaanan siya hindi ko naman alam kung DVD, I assume they are DVDs,” he said.
“Me dadaanan tayong proseso, tanungin ko muna... siya [Llamas] 'Ito ang accusations sa iyo, ano ang sagot mo'," the President said.
“Tapos muna dun tutungo tayo sa kaukulang nakalagay na rules, regulation pero me process na dapat daanan,” he added.
GMA News Online tried to get the comment of Llamas on the incident but to no avail.
Presidential spokespersons Edwin Lacierda and Abigail Valte were also yet to comment on the issue.
Optical Media Board head Ronnie Ricketts said he will seek a meeting with Llamas in an attempt to "reach out" him in the spirit of "dialogue."
"Nakalulungkot, pero... we'll reach out to him. Sana suportahan ang kampanya namin laban sa piracy," Ricketts said in an interview on dzBB radio Wednesday morning.
Firearms controversy
In October last year, Aquino also came to the defense of Llamas who was criticized for possessing an AK-47 assault rifle.
"After the evaluation, it was determined that there was a very real threat on him (Llamas)," Aquino told members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in a forum in Makati City amid the firearms issue.
"He is involved in so many negotiations... There are people who would not want these negotiations to prosper," Aquino added.
Also at the Makati forum, Aquino said the right to self-defense is enshrined in the 1987 Constitution "and even to the Churches that we belong to."
"There are people allegedly trailing his children. There were people sighted in the vicinity of their house that were not identified," Aquino added.
Llamas’ AK-47 was discovered when his vehicle figured in an accident in Quezon City while he was attending a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
Aside from the AK-47, Llamas, who was Aquino's "kabarilan" (practice shooting buddy), also owns an M-16 rifle and three short firearms. All the firearms are covered by both license and permits to carry.
Llamas then expressed readiness to resign but only if Aquino would ask him to. — LBG, GMA News
We welcome healthy discussions and friendly debate! Please click Flag to alert us of a comment that may be abusive or threatening. Read our full comment policy here.
Comments Powered by Disqus
advertisement
Related Videos
advertisement
advertisement
