Political adviser Llamas admits owning 5 firearms

Citing “credible threats" to his life, presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas on Monday faced the media and admitted owning the AK-47 firearm found in his vehicle as well as several other firearms. At a press briefing in Malacañang held shortly after his arrival from Geneva, Switzerland, where he attended the executive meeting of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Llamas said he also owns an M16 rifle and three short firearms, all covered by licenses. “The firearm (AK-47) is one of several measures adopted in the wake of information I received several months back from senior members of the intelligence community that there were credible threats to my personal safety," Llamas said. Llamas said the AK-47 is covered by both a valid firearms license and a permit to carry. The high-powered weapon was found when his vehicle figured in an accident Friday last week while he was abroad. He left Manila Wednesday. At the same press conference, Llamas, who said he has yet to meet with President Benigno Aquino III to discuss the issue, said he bought the firearm in June and secured a permit for it in July. At Camp Crame, Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, chief of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Division, said there was no violation if Llamas has five licensed firearms. In fact, Estilles said any person can have any number of firearms as long as these are properly covered by licenses. "Dati, hanggang sampu lang pero dahil nga nabago [na ang provision], naging walang limit na," Estilles said.

The threat Llamas said around April and May this year, his neighbors and family members informed him of the presence of several vehicles suspiciously parked near his house in Quezon City for several days. “Hindi bumababa ‘yung mga tao sa loob [ng sasakyan] so we asked for help from the Philippine National Police, and for several weeks naglagay sila ng mga mobile doon sa malapit sa aming bahay," he said. He also said sometime in May, he saw a black Honda Civic, which he said was one of the vehicles seen parked near his house, following him when he fetched his daughter from school. “Since then we took it upon ourselves na mag-ingat at protektahan ‘yung aming mga sarili," Llamas said. He said he asked the Philippine National Police for additional security last September. Suspects? Llamas did not give any specific group when asked where the threats could be coming from, but noted that his office handles several sensitive issues that could have hurt some groups or personalities. “Yung postponement ng ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) elections, mga investigation of corruption especially from the previous government, kaya maraming mga issues na pwedeng mayroon kaming mga natatapakan as Office for Political Affairs," he said. Asked on his competence in handling a high powered firearm, Llamas said he is a shooter even before he was appointed to the post, and that he was able to join the President Aquino, a gun enthusiast, in practice shooting once or twice. He also said he underwent Citizen Army Training (CAT) during his high school days. Why AK-47? Llamas said he chose AK-47, which he said cost him P30,000, because of its simplicity, capacity and practicality. He, however, said he has yet to use it even in practice shooting. Addressing his critics who downplay the threats against him, Llamas said they probably do not have the same experience as he has. “Baka kung nasa posisyon din na ganito sila, hindi natin masisigurado baka maramdaman din nila ‘yung intensity ‘nung pangangailangan ng security. They are entitled to their own opinion pero baka hindi pa lang nila naranasan malagay sa ganitong klaseng posisyon," he said. Llamas had already ordered the dismissal of his two staff, Joey Valderama Tecson and John Brilliant Alarcon, who were using his vehicle when it figured in an accident. He said the two were his “close-in aides." He said a few hours before the accident, the two passed by his house to ensure it was secure. Unfortunately, after doing so, they proceeded to use the vehicle for personal purposes without authorization and against explicit office policies. “I have already ordered both staff members dismissed. The formal process for their dismissal has already been initiated upon my instructions, and is currently underway," Llamas said. Full cooperation Llamas said his office will continue to extend full cooperation and support to any legal and judicial processes that may arise as a result of the police investigation. “I would like to emphasize and reiterate that there has been no attempt by anyone to withhold information about the incident, either from the police, media, or the public, or to allow those found responsible to escape culpability for their actions," he said. “Neither I, nor my office, will ask for or countenance special treatment in this regard. We remain fully committed to the principles of transparency and public accountability that the President has defined his administration by," he added. He, however, defended his staff who retrieved the AK-47 from his vehicle when the accident happened as seen in news video footage. “Siguro yun ang kanilang judgment call. Maraming tao sa paligid, unrestricted yung vehicle," he said. Estilles said Llamas’ staff may face administrative charges for allegedly violating rules of handling firearms. — KBK, GMA News