President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an executive order reorganizing the National Security Council (NSC) and removing the vice president as a member due to the position’s irrelevance to the responsibilities of membership in the council.
Asked by reporters why the NSC was restructured, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said it was to “reorganize and streamline the membership of the NSC.”
“At the moment, the VP is not considered relevant to the responsibilities of membership in the NSC,” he said.
“Nonetheless, when the need arises, the EO reserves to the President the power to add members or advisers,” he added.
Under Executive Order No. 81, signed last December 30 and released to the public on Friday, the NSC shall now be composed of the following:
- president as chair
- Senate president
- speaker of the House of Representatives
- Senate president pro-tempore
- three deputy speakers to be designated by the speaker
- majority floor leader of the Senate
- majority floor leader of the House
- ninority floor leader of the Senate
- ninority floor leader of the House
- chair, Senate committee on foreign relations
- chair, Senate committee on national defense and security, peace, unification and reconciliation
- chair, Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs
- chair, House committee on foreign affairs
- chair, House committee on national defense and security
- chair, House committee on public order and safety
- executive secretary
- national security adviser
- secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
- secretary, Department of Justice
- secretary, Department of National Defense
- secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government
- secretary, Department of Labor and Employment
- chief presidential legal counsel
- secretary, Presidential Communications Office
- head, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office
- such other government officials and private citizens as the president may appoint or designate from time to time
The order also removed past presidents of the Philippines as members of the NSC.
“The Director-General of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Chief of the Philippine National Police, and the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation shall attend the meetings of the Council as may be necessary to advise and assist in its deliberations,” the order read.
“The Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may also be invited to participate in the NSC,” it added.
Meanwhile, the executive committee of the NSC shall now be composed of the following:
- president as chair
- executive secretary
- Senate president or his representative
- speaker of the House of Representatives or his representative
- national security adviser
- secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
- secretary, Department of Justice
- secretary, Department of National Defense
- secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government
- such other members or advisers as the President may designate from time to time
According to EO 81, all orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts that are inconsistent with the provisions of the new order are repealed or modified accordingly.
Last November 25, Vice President Sara Duterte released a statement questioning why the NSC allegedly did not invite her to a meeting held the previous day.
“As a member of the National Security Council (EO 115 Dec 24, 1986), I do not recall receiving a single notice of meeting since 30 June 2022. I request the NSA to please send to me the notarized minutes of all meetings conducted by the Council from 30 June 2022, if any. I want to review what the council has accomplished so far, in terms of policies and recommendations for national security,” she said.
Duterte also demanded a copy of the notice of the meeting, along with proof of service, a list of attendees, photos of the meeting, and the notarized minutes of the meeting.
However, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez also confirmed with reporters on Friday that no NSC meeting was called yet under the Marcos administration.