Presidential adviser sacks 2 escorts in car accident

MANILA, Philippines—The office of Presidential Political Adviser Ronald Llamas has dismissed two of his security escorts who figured in a car accident last week along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

In a statement, the Office of the Presidential Adviser (OPA) said its two administrative and support staff members Joey Valderama Tecson and John Brillant Alarcon have been placed under investigation and would likely be dismissed for using Llamas’ Mitsubishi Montero “for their own personal purposes without authorization and against explicit office policies.”

The two staff members were instructed to use the vehicle to go to Llamas’ house and ensure it was secure in the absence of the political adviser, who was still attending a conference in Switzerland as of Sunday.

“(We) deeply regret this unfortunate incident and (have) already initiated the process to effect the immediate dismissal from the service of these two staff members,” the OPA said.

“The OPA is also extending full cooperation to the ongoing police investigation and fully supports any legal and judicial processes that may arise as a result of this incident,” the statement said.

It also said that the firearm found inside the car, an AK-47 rifle, which was seen in a video footage taken at the time of the accident, was “duly registered with the appropriate authorities in the name of Llamas and is covered by a valid firearms license.”

The OPA said the firearm was being kept for Llamas’ personal security and that Llamas had instructed his staff members not to place the firearm inside his car, an order apparently ignored by the two staff members.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on state radio Sunday that Llamas has been taking security precautions after receiving death threats.