Rifle found in P-Noy adviser's car during mishap

MANILA, Philippines - An assault rifle and several bulletproof vests were found in a sport utility vehicle owned by Presidential Political Adviser Ronald Llamas when it figured in an accident along near the Technohub along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Llamas’ Mitsubishi Montero (with a 6*OPA protocol license plate) hit the passenger side of an Isuzu closed van (YUJ-961) driven by Jonel Tenorio at around 2:10 a.m.

Land Transportation Office executive director Alfonso Tan said the protocol plate 6*OPA is indeed issued to Llamas.

In a report relayed to the MMDA Metrobase, the Montero was driven by Joey Pecson, who identified himself as a bodyguard of Llamas. Another bodyguard, John Alarcon, suffered slight injuries as a result of the accident and was brought to the East Avenue Medical Center.

Traffic investigator Senior Police Officer 4 Nelson Apostol said the Montero’s front bumper sustained major damage and the vehicle had to be towed by a private towing company to its impounding area in Regalado Avenue.

Apostol said Pecson appeared to be sober when traffic investigators questioned him about the accident.

ABS-CBN reported that the traffic police saw an assault rifle beneath the driver’s seat and several bulletproof vests in the Montero.

Minutes later, two men aboard a Starex van arrived at the scene and took the rifle and vests from the SUV. They refused to give any comment on the incident, ABS-CBN said.

In a statement, Llamas’ office said the rifle is “duly licensed” and issued to his security detail. Llamas is in Geneva, Switzerland, where he is attending a United Nations High Commission for Refugees conference.

“The Office of the Political Adviser confirms the unfortunate accident involving the vehicle of… Llamas early this morning. We are thankful that no one was hurt in the accident,” the statement read. – With Delon Porcalla, Reinir Padua