Priest defends presidential adviser on purchases of pirated DVD

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – President Aquino’s beleaguered political adviser Ronald Llamas appeared to have found an unlikely ally in a priest known for his pro-poor stance in southern Philippines.

Father Eliseo Mercado, a leading peace advocate in Mindanao, said Llamas was not the issue but the injustice by capitalists on poor Filipinos who have resorted to buying pirated discs instead of the expensive originals.

Mercado described as “anti-poor” the anti-piracy law, that incidentally made Llamas controversial when he was caught buying more than P2,000 worth of pirated discs at a mall in Quezon City last week.

“If the originals are priced rightly and affordable, people will buy the originals. The poor has to be contented with clones and copies because they are within their reach,” he said.

Llamas made headlines after he was caught by an editor of Inquirer’s Bandera buying dozens of pirated CDs despite intensified campaign by the government’s Optical Media Board against imitations sold in sidewalks and even in malls.

In 2011, Llamas’ car figured in a car accident and yielded three high-powered firearms he claimed to be licensed but without permits to carry outside residence. Llamas, who was out of the country at that time, was not charged but illegal possession of firearms were filed against his three security escorts.

While Mercado did not categorically say he favored Llamas buying faked CDs, he said the poor could only afford copies in clones.

He said original copies were prized at P350 to P500, while the faked ones were sold at P30.

“If the originals are priced at P50, there would be no need for the anti-piracy law,” Mercado said.