MANILA, Philippines — The Aquino administration remains firm in its drive against intellectual piracy amid, Malacañang said Thursday that Presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas was seen buying pirated DVDs in Quezon City.

In a press briefing, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that President Aquino was only misinterpreted when he said that it was not a priority.

“No one should have any doubt that this administration is committed to upholding the law and international commitments to protect intellectual property rights. The Optical Media Board (OMB) and other agencies tasked with implementing our laws and regulations in this regard have been active,” Lacierda said.

“It is unfortunate that the President’s statement concerning Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas was misinterpreted in some quarters. The President was categorical that Secretary Llamas will undergo investigation to determine his culpability, if any,” he said.

President Aquino had said Llamas’ reported buying of DVDs in a stall in Quezon City is not a priority.

“While he said it was not a priority, it was not with respect to the fight against intellectual piracy,” Lacierda said, noting that the President has other priorities in mind such as the investigation of the Makati bomb blast, among other issues.

“This has nothing to do with our fight against intellectual piracy, we just want to clarify that,” he said.

Lacierda also assured that the issue will be addressed and that the Aquino administration’s drive against intellectual piracy remains firm.

“Our drive on anti-piracy remains firm. Certainly, we value the importance against intellectual piracy,” he said.

“The thrust of intellectual piracy is towards those who perpetrate the mass production of pirated materials and this does not include only DVDs. This also includes other matters that can be infringed upon,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda, meanwhile, said there will be a discussion between Llamas and President Aquino for the former to explain his side of the story.

He also said that Palace officials are not indispensable.

“Secretary Llamas will be coming out one of these days pero kakausapin muna niya si Pangulo [but he will first talk to the President],” Lacierda said.

“Hindi siya untouchable [He is not untouchable], none of us is untouchable, we just want to clarify,” he said, noting that the first time Llamas was caught in a controversy was not his doing but that of his bodyguards.