Llamas’ fate hangs; Pacquiao joins backers

Ronald Llamas. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Malacañang is expected to finalize Friday the findings of its investigation of Secretary Ronald Llamas’ purchase of bootlegged video discs.

Undersecretary Abigail Valte, President Benigno Aquino III’s deputy spokesperson, on Thursday said possible sanctions against Llamas would not be discussed until the panel findings were officially released.

“We were advised that the proceedings will wrap up within the week and we have received no information to the contrary,” Valte said when asked if the Malacañang panel’s recommendations would be submitted Friday, as President Aquino announced on Wednesday.

Boxing champion Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao defended Llamas on Thursday, saying the political adviser violated no law when he purchased P2,000 worth of pirated DVD movies.

“He didn’t violate any law and he has already said sorry for what happened,” Pacquiao said. “He should be allowed to continue the good that he’s doing for our ordinary countrymen.”

But folk singer Noel Cabangon, who supported President Aquino during the election campaign, said Llamas’ purchase of pirated DVDs was improper.

He, however, added that Llamas’ side should have been taken when he was photographed sifting through bootlegged discs.

“As an artist I believe in copyright protection but the reaction to this incident has been grossly disproportionate and overly sensationalized,” Cabangon said.

Former UP President Francisco Nemenzo earlier defended Llamas.

“I think the public should understand that what happened to Ronald last week is not actually a bad thing because this just proves that unlike other people who get appointed to high positions in government and all of a sudden live lavish lifestyles, Ronald continues to be the ordinary and simple person that he is,” Nemenzo said.

Nemenzo said he had been a close friend of Llamas for the past 30 years. Norman Bordadora