By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Despite the anti-Charter change stance of the Duterte political family, the so-called “Pinklawans” are not biting the sudden change in messaging of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his children, including Vice President Sara Duterte.

This was the analysis of former Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Ronald Llamas who said that the Dutertes are apparently aiming to co-opt the “Pinklawans” in their goal to oust President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. which will benefit VP Sara Duterte as the constitutional successor.

“‘Yung mga dati mong kalaban na hindi naman sila ang nasa poder, medyo ‘wag mo munang banatan. Ang banatan mo ngayon ay ‘yung pangunahing kalaban. Di ka magugulat na sinasakyan nila ang People Power, katulad ng sinasakyan nila itong 1987 People Power Constitution,” Llamas said.

He recalled FPRRD’s statement during a January prayer rally in Davao City that there’s nothing wrong with the 1987 Constitution which he sought to amend when he was in Malacañang.

On the other hand, VP Sara suddenly extolled the “lessons” from the 1986 People Power Revolution on its 38th anniversary Sunday (25 February 2024), a turnaround from her remark in 2017 downplaying its significance.

But Llamas noted that Liberal Party’s (LP) message for the People Power revolt anniversary emphasized the need for justice to be served for victims of the drug war under the Duterte administration, even as the party also opposes the charter change initiative of Marcos Jr.’s allies in Congress.

“Hindi sila (LP) tumatawag ng People Power against the government. Ang People Power nila against Cha-cha. Dahil ang People Power against the government, mas justified ‘yan kung walang tinatawag na democratic space,” Llamas said.

 “You can criticize the government nang hindi mo pinapabagsak,” he stressed.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Likening the charter change (Cha-Cha) to the fabled Pandora’s Box, political analyst Ronald Llamas has predicted that this could derail the presidential ambition of Vice President Sara Duterte in 2028.

Llamas said this is the underlying reason why the Duterte political dynasty suddenly voiced stiff opposition against Cha-Cha even if its minions attempted to amend the 1987 Constitution thru a “revolutionary government” during the previous administration but failed.

“Definitely, ang tatamaan niyan (Cha-Cha) ay ang Vice President (Sara Duterte) dahil ang tingin nila, Duterte camp, ay shoo-in sa 2028 for the presidency dahil sa nag number one siya sa lahat nang survey maliban sa isa. Sa isang survey, number one si (Raffy) Tulfo,” Llamas said when asked by Christian Esguerra in the latter’s podcast Facts First if there are some ambitions that will be affected by Cha-Cha.

When asked by Esguerra why should VP Sara’s presidential ambition be endangered if the goal of the people’s initiative (PI) is for the Senate and the House of Representatives to be voting as one and only the economic provisions will be amended.

“Yung iba kasi may malisya e, pag binuksan ang Constitution, pag binuksan ang Pandora’s box na iyan, lahat ay pwede nang ipasok, lahat ay pwede nang ipasok dahil theoretically, legally, pwede naman… That is not lost on the Dutertes,” Llamas said.

In Greek mythology, the god Prometheus stole fire from heaven to give to the human race, which originally consisted only of men. To punish humanity, the other gods created the first woman, the beautiful Pandora. As a gift, Zeus gave her a box, which she was told never to open. However, as soon as he was out of sight she took off the lid, and out swarmed all the troubles of the world, never to be recaptured.

Meanwhile, the Diskarteng Pinoy in Region 7 said it favors the entry of foreign investments to generate jobs and provide high wages to the Filipino workers.

At the same time, Diskarteng Pinoy called for the abolition of the Senate and the shift to a unicameral parliamentary system of government to speed up passage of relevant laws and further advance the country’s economy.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — The days of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte are now numbered with the possible issuance of an international arrest.

This is the fearless forecast of political analyst Ronald Llamas in his interview with Richard Heydarian through the latter’s vlog on YouTube.

Llamas, who served as presidential political adviser of then President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, expressed the belief that the former president would be arrested “sooner than later.”

“Historically, yung proseso na yan, mga seven to eight years … Nandun na tayo sa seven years. More or less, inaasahan na based on their timeline frame, mukhang hahampas yan sooner than later,” Llamas said.

Duterte is being charged before the International Criminal Court (ICC) with “crimes against humanity” due to the reported 30,000 victims of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the course of his campaign against illegal drugs.

Llamas also mentioned that the ICC already got hold of former Davao Death Squad (DDS) hitman Arthur “Arthur” Lascañas who said that Duterte, who served as mayor for more than 20 years, was behind the DDS in a 186-page affidavit submitted to the ICC.

He pointed out that the ICC will have to act fast since this is the first time that an Asian leader is being investigated by the ICC.

“First time na may Asian… kaya di sila pwede mag-dilly dally,” Llamas said.

He noted that the government will have no choice but to cooperate with the ICC.

“Pero pag-issue ng international warrant at yan ay i-implement probably by Interpol, hindi naman di pwedeng samahan yan ng gobyerno, di naman di pwedeng suportahan ng PNP,” Llamas said.

He also expressed apprehension of a chaotic situation if the government cannot effectively protect those who will serve an international arrest warrant on Duterte.

“Pag may nangyari sa implementing people na yan ay sirang-sira tayo sa international (community),” Llamas said.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Amid the infighting in UniTeam between the camp of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and his cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on one hand and the rabid supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte on the other hand, Akbayan stalwart Ronald Llamas could hardly conceal his dismay that the opposition forces remain in disarray as he and other opposition leaders were not invited at the recent Christmas party of Liberal Party at the house of LP president and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman.

In his interview with political analyst Richard Heydarian on the latter’s vlog, Llamas — who served as Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs to then President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III — said he could see efforts to create a “big tent” of the opposition although some political personalities were conspicuously absent in the recent LP Christmas party.

“Hindi nga ako invited eh… Kaya nga inaalaska ko si Trillanes over lunch… Baka mapagbibintangan tayo na di opposition,” Llamas said.

Noticeably hobnobbing with LP leaders were Makabayan bloc leaders like lawyer Neri Colmenares and ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro who are both espousing the so-called “national democratic” line.

Llamas reportedly helped form the Akbayan party-list in 1998, espousing social democracy and democratic socialism.

Aside from Llamas and Trillanes, also not invited to the LP Christmas party were Senator Risa Hontiveros, former Senator Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno.

Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that Llamas will be the likely running mate of fellow Akbayan partymate Hontiveros if she runs for president in 2028.

(IAmigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

WITH THE POSSIBLE presidential run of Senator Risa Hontiveros as the standard bearer of “third force” composed of centrist and moderate left political forces in 2028, self-styled political analyst Ronald Llamas has loomed as her running mate.

This possibility surfaced with the noticeable frequent guestings of Llamas in various podcast interviews.

Reliable sources said Llamas has been the consistent “admirer” of Hontiveros ever since 1986 when the first Marcos administration was toppled down in what is known as EDSA People Power Revolution after 20 years in power.

Their closeness triggered rumors that they were just more than friends or “comrades-in-arms” pursuing the social democratic (socdem) ideals.

In 2013, Llamas was once again rumored to be the boyfriend of Hontiveros but the widow senator denied this “chismis” (gossip).

“I am not seeing him. We never went out. We have been friends and colleagues for decades since I graduated from college. Magkasama kami sa Coalition for Peace,” Hontiveros said then.

Llamas’ “admiration” for Hontiveros can be gleaned in his June 30, 2022 interview with IPS (International Politics and Society) magazine which is based in the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s office in Brussels, Belgium.

IPS asked Llamas: “With Senator Risa Hontiveros, your party holds the only oppositional seat in the senate. What does it mean for your party Akbayan?”

He replied: “Risa Hontiveros will not only be the leader of the opposition in the Senate but in the whole country. The positive thing about being the lone opposition senator in the Senate is that you get to sit in all the committees. This gives her a platform from which to articulate her grievances and her vision.”

Llamas stressed: “Vice-President Robredo has transferred the leadership of the opposition to Risa Hontiveros, so she is now in a strategic position to harness the energies of the pink wave and create a new opposition with Akbayan Party as the lead.”

(ai/mmm)