Last year, after his bodyguards were caught with an AK-47 while they were using vehicle, presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas had quipped, "I don't think i should be dismissed, I did not commit serious crimes like plunder."

This time around, ABS-CBNNews.com reports that on Monday, January 30, Llamas issued a statement wherein  he apologized for "any difficulty and unintended embarrassment for the administration as a result of the publication of a news article with accompanying photo on his purchase of pirated DVDs." Llamas' bootleg DVD shopping spree happened on January 23 at a Quezon City mall. He was photographed at the mall by reporter Dona Policar, who happened to be at the said mall.

Although Malacañang had earlier said that Llamas "may be fired" for his latest gaffe, it doesn't look like he'll be sacked. Moreover, he seems to have gained at least one more "defender."

The ABS-CBNNews.com report also quoted former President Joseph Estrada, who said that President Noynoy Aquino "has no reason to fire Llamas." Estrada pointed out: "Llamas has not done anything to lose the trust and confidence of the president. Buying pirated DVDs has no relation to his duties as Political Affairs Secretary. Hindi naman siya nagnakaw sa kaban ng bayan (He didn't steal from the nation's coffers)."

For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com.