Marcos orders NICA reorganization amid ‘evolving threats to nat’l security’

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reorganized the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) in a bid to adapt to changing threats to national security, said the Palace on Tuesday.

The Palace announced Executive Order No. 54 on Tuesday, but the order was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on January 19.

“There is a need to reorganize the NICA to adapt to the evolving threats to national security and ensure a more vigorous intelligence collection, intensify internal and external coordination with foreign and domestic counterparts, and prepare intelligence and security assessments and estimates using data analytics to ensure national security and promote national interest,” the EO stated.

According to Malacañang, the main point of the reorganization was the establishment of the  Office of the Deputy Director General (ODDG) for Cyber and Emerging Threats.

The said Office is tasked with overall planning for, supervision, and coordination of the NICA on counter-intelligence and counter-measures against cybersecurity threats.

The ODDG will have the rank of Assistant Secretary and will be appointed by the President.

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