National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año will not recommend to President Marcos Jr. to reconvene the National Security Council (NSC) over the latest aggressive actions by China Coast Guard (CCG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a press briefing on Monday, June 24, Año said that the issues emanating from the violent disruption by the CCG of a resupply mission in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal last week are currently being handled by the newly established National Maritime Council (NMC), headed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
“At this moment, we are not recommending for the convening of the National Security Council,” he said.
However, Año said that Marcos can still call for a full Council meeting to discuss its stand and recommendations.
“The President has the discretion to convene the full council or the executive committee anytime,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino earlier called on Marcos to convene the NSC, headed by Año, a retired general and former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, to better respond to China’s aggressive actions during the June 17 resupply mission which led to the dismemberment of the right thumb of a Philippine Navy trooper.
Following the incident, the NMC -- created on March 25 through Marcos' signing of Executive Order No. 57 to increase the country's maritime security in light of China's activities in the West Philippine Sea -- convened on June 21 to recommend new policies in reference to the conduct of the resupply missions.
However, there appears to be a misalignment of messaging between the Department of National Defense (DND), which is a member of the NMC, and the NMC itself when it comes to the issues in the WPS.
In the same press briefing on Monday, DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the government will not publish the schedule of future resupply missions, which was earlier recommended by the NMC to President Marcos Jr. to de-escalate the tension in the WPS.
Teodoro also refuted Bersamin’s remarks that the Chinese aggression during the June 17 resupply mission was a misunderstanding or accident, saying it was a deliberate act by the CCG to prevent the AFP from carrying out its mission.
For his part, Año said the situation in Ayungin Shoal and the issues in the WPS are “effectively being managed” by the NMC, hence, there is no need for the NSC to intervene.