After being dragged in a controversy, Presidential Political Adviser Ronald Llamas has fired two of his staff who supposedly used his vehicle for personal purposes.
This, following a vehicular incident involving Llamas' vehicle, leading to the discovery of high-caliber firearms and several bullet-proof vests inside the Cabinet member's sports utility vehicle.
The weapons, Malacanang claimed, were “duly registered with the appropriate authorities."
Quoting an earlier statement from Llamas' office, Malacanang said Joey Valderama Tecson and John Brilliant Alarcon, who were riding Llamas' vehicle, were involved in an accident along Commonwealth Avenue Friday morning.
Tecson and Alarcon were allegedly instructed to drive the vehicle to Llamas’ house but the two allegedly used the black Mitsubishi Montero Sport for personal means.
At the time of the incident, Llamas was in Geneva, Switzerland for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
“Llamas gave explicit instructions before departing for abroad that the firearm be unloaded from the vehicle and safely secured, but apparently, the two staff members neglected to comply with these instructions,” the Office of the Political Adviser (OPA) said in a statement.
OPA added it "has already initiated the process to effect the immediate dismissal from the service of these two staff members.”
OPA claimed there was no intent on their part to hide information about Llamas' firearms, which reports say included a high-caliber AK-47.
“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,” OPA added
