The exclusion of former presidents from the National Security Council (NSC) is a huge loss for the government as their “wealth of experience” could give the incumbent administration valuable information in crafting the country’s national security policies, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa pointed this out when he was asked over the weekend on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s recent decision to revamp the NSC through the issuance of Executive order No. 81, in which he removed Vice President Sara Duterte, including her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and all other former presidents from the agency.
“Sayang, ako’y nanghihinayang sa experience—the wealth of experience ng mga former presidents that could be converted into valuable inputs in crafting defense policies ng sitting president (Unfortunately, I regret the experience—the wealth of experience of the former presidents that could be converted into valuable inputs in crafting defense policies of the sitting president),” Dela Rosa said after he was asked about his reaction to the NSC's reorganization in a recent interview.
EO 81 also omitted former presidents Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Dela Rosa, however, noted that it is Marcos’ prerogative to reorganize all departments and offices under the executive branch.
The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief also considered that even former vice president Leni Robredo was also effectively excluded from the NSC.
“Maybe they find it uncomfortable na you know, convening the National Security Council with the Vice President around, so tinanggal nila. Discretion nila yan (so they removed her. So that’s their discretion),” he pointed out.
“Hindi naman nakalagay sa Constitution natin na talagang nandyan ang Vice President, so ayaw lang nila (The Constitution does not say that the vice president should be included, so they don’t want her there). They can do everything, the chief executive has the power to reorganize all the departments and offices under the executive branch,” he explained.
Still, Dela Rosa expressed his regret that former presidents were removed, as they could provide inputs that would have benefited Marcos.
“‘Yung former presidents, I don’t know kung nagawa na yan noon because pagdating kasi sa (if they did it before because when it comes to) security aspect, napaka-valuable ng inputs na pwedeng ibigay ng mga former presidents sa sitting president (the inputs former presidents can give to the sitting president is very valuable), the current president,” he pointed out.
“Napaka-valuable (very valuable) advice. Very valuable ang inputs na maibigay nila sa National Security Council na mapakinabangan ng current president or sitting president,” the senator said.
Aside from the omission of the Vice President and past presidents as members of the council, EO 81 also orders that three deputy speakers to be designated by the Speaker will be members of the NSC, replacing the “Deputy Speakers for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao” under the last reorganization during the Arroyo administration in 2001.
Under the President’s latest directive, the NSC will now be composed by:
- the President as chairperson;
- 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;
- Minority Floor Leader of the Senate;
- Minority Floor Leader of the House;
- Chairperson, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations;
- Chairperson, Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation;
- Chairperson, Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs;
- Chairperson, House Committee on Foreign Affairs;
- Chairperson, House Committee on National Defense and Security;
- Chairperson, 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; and,
- Such other government officials and private citizens as the President may appoint or designate from time to time.