There is nothing personal behind the removal of Vice President Sara Duterte from the National Security Council (NSC), a Palace official said, emphasizing that President Marcos has the right to ensure that whoever advises him has his full trust and confidence.
Responding to comments that the recent move of the President to revamp the NSC, dropping the Vice President and living former president, including her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, was "dirty politics," Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin maintained his earlier statement that the Vice President "has ceased to be relevant as far as the responsibilities of that membership in the National Security Council is concerned."
Considering that the NSC is an advisory body, Bersamin stressed that the President has the right and responsibility to see to it that the people who advise him have his trust.
He also said that with the recent developments, it would not be a good action to include the Vice President in the roster of people advising him in terms of national security.
"I would like to emphasize here is this. Look at it this way, the National Security Council is an advisory body and this is an advisory body in relation to the President as the Commander-in-Chief. So, the President has the right as well as the responsibility of seeing to it that whoever advises him is within his fullest trust and confidence," Bersamin said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
"Now, I am not saying that the Vice President has already, does not anymore deserve to be trusted. But I am just saying that with the recent developments, it is not going to be good advice or good action on the part of the President to still have her on board," Bersamin added.
The Executive Secretary further said that Marcos has the power of absolute reorganization where "he can choose the people he listens to or he would listen to."
"So, if the National Security Council is supposed to be including members who are trusted by the President, then let it be understood in that light," he said.
"Wala kaming personalan (There is nothing personal about it), but my statement before was, the Vice President has ceased to be relevant as far as the responsibilities of that membership in the National Security Council is concerned," he added.
The Palace official also took a swipe at former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo after making such comment, saying "he has no moral authority to question the President's decision."
"Meron akong nabasa, na (I have read) something that reminded me that Panelo, during his time as Presidential Adviser, was also, advocated the exclusion of Vice, then vice president Leni Robredo. So, he has no moral authority to question the decision of the President," Bersamin said.
In a statement also on Tuesday, Panelo said "Executive Secretary Bersamin is misinformed" on his allegation that he advocated for Robredo's exclusion from the council.
"I never advocated the exclusion of former VP Robredo in the National Security Council," Panelo said.
"She was in fact invited and attended the National Security Council meeting in July, 2016 together with four living Presidents (FVR, ERAP, PGMA, PBCA) at that time during the Duterte presidency," Panelo added.
It's not about martial law
The revamp was not a prelude to a martial declaration, Bersamin also clarified. He added that such claim was malicious.
"Alam mo iniisip mo iyan lagi (You know if you think about that always), that’s malicious, because the Constitution is very clear when may a president declare martial law. I don't think it is in the mind of the President right now," Bersamin said.
What the President has in mind, according to the Palace official, is the country's economic prosperity, the health and welfare of the people, especially those of the lower classes, and the prioritization of his legacy projects.
"It's not about martial law. It's not about extending himself in power. He has no thinking about that. He does not even think in those terms," Bersamin said.