Loren Legarda questions role of Ronald Llamas

Sen. Loren Legarda on Friday asked for a breakdown of the P58-million budget for the office of the President’s political adviser, saying she wants to know what Ronald Llamas would play and whether his office would be used for a favored presidential candidate.

At the Senate budget hearing, Legarda noted the absence of Llamas, which Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa blamed to the busy political season.

“You’re correct in saying it’s the political season. Do we see the political adviser of the President favoring one candidate? And government funds being used for a preferred candidate?” she asked.

“What kind of political advising or organization will be used with this P58 million?” she said.

Ochoa said the details of the budget would be provided later.

In an interview after the hearing, Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras said the job of Llamas was to ensure that the President is aware of political developments in the country, both in the local and national levels.

“The role of the political adviser is to go around the country and listen to the political temperament of the people and make sure the President is aware of that,” Almendras said.

He said the budget for Llamas’ office was intended to see to it that there would be people in the regions tasked with understanding what was happening there.