Llamas' supposed transfer to communications group just a ‘funny story’ — Palace

It was just a joke that somebody took seriously.

 

This was how Malacañang on Friday described a report that President Benigno Aquino III’s political adviser, Ronald Llamas, will be joining the Palace communications group.

 

At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the communications team just jokingly asked Llamas to hold a press briefing during a meeting with Aquino last Wednesday.

 

“Sabi namin, ‘Sec, ano, ikaw, mag-briefing ka. Magbigay ka ng regular briefing sa press corps.’ Tapos binibiro namin siya na ‘tulungan mo naman kami’,” Valte told reporters.

 

“You know, nagbibiruan lang kami. So, baka may nakarinig, sineryoso. ’Yon ‘yung pinagmulan niyan,” she added.

 

An online report published on Thursday said Llamas is replacing Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in the Malacañang communications group. 

 

According to the same report, Coloma is to be appointed as new chief of the Civil Service Commission.

 

Coloma earlier said that he had no information on the reported shake-up in Aquino’s communications team.

 

Llamas, Aquino’s senior political adviser since 2010, was embroiled in different controversies in the past, including the discovery of a high-powered assault rifle in his vehicle following a road accident in Quezon City.

 

Akbayan party-list, which is part of the administration coalition, lists Llamas as party president. — JDS, GMA News