The reorganization of the National Security Council (NSC) by President Marcos Jr. is meant to “enhance” the capability of the Chief Executive to make policies relating to national security based on prudent recommendations of people he trusts.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año had this to say about the revamp made by Marcos to the NSC, which saw the removal of Vice President Sara Duterte and former presidents, including the latter’s father, Rodrigo Duterte, from its composition.
Año, who serves as the director general of the NSC, said the reconstitution of the composition of the council “is necessary to further enhance the formulation of policies affecting national security.”
“The NSC is, first and foremost, an advisory body to the President, and its composition is always subject to the authority of President,” he said.
“Hence, the purpose of reorganization is to enhance the formulation of policies relating to national security so that actions and decisions thereon by the Presidents rests on sound advice and accurate information. It is also premised on the need for timely and coherent action to address current and emerging threats to national security,” he added.
Año explained that the Administrative Code of 1987 vests the President with the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President, of which the NSC is a part of.
Moreover, he said Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all executive departments, bureaus and offices.
The NSA said the reorganization of the NSC is no longer new as it had been done by many previous presidents in the past “to meet the President’s requirements and changing conditions.”
He stated that since the NSC was established by President Elpidio Quirino in 1950, it has undergone several reorganizations including that of President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. under E.O. 396 in 1972; President Corazon Aquino under E.O. 115 in 1986 and E.O. 292 in 1987; President Fidel V. Ramos under E.O. No. 33 in 1992; and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo under E.O. No. 34 in 2001.
As provided in the Administrative Code of 1987, the NSC is composed of the President as chairman, the Vice President, the Executive Secretary, and the Secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Security Adviser, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other government officials and private individuals as the President may appoint.
However, Marcos issued Executive Order (EO) No. 81 reorganizing the NSC “to ensure its resiliency as an institution facing the evolving domestic and international challenges and opportunities.” The order was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Dec. 30, 2024 and made public on Jan. 3, 2025.
In the said order, Marcos excluded the Vice President as well as former presidents from the composition of the NSC, the principal advisory body on the proper coordination and integration of plans and policies affecting national security.
Under the EO, the council will still be headed by the President as the chairperson and is composed of the Senate president, House Speaker, Senate president pro-tempore, three deputy speakers designated by the House Speaker, Senate's Majority and Minority Floor leaders, and House Majority and Minority Floor leaders.
Other officials included in the council are chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on National Defense and Security, House Committee on Public Order and Safety.
The Executive Secretary, National Security Adviser, secretaries of DFA; DOJ; DND; DILG; DOLE; and Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Chief Presidential Legal Counsel; Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head, and other government officials and private citizens as the President may appoint or designate from time to time are also included in the council.
The director-general of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the AFP chief of Staff, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) shall attend the meetings of the council as may be necessary to advise and assist in its deliberations.
The governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may also be invited to participate in the NSC.
NSC's executive committee was also reorganized and shall now be composed of the President, Executive Secretary, Senate President or his representative, House Speaker, National Security Adviser, and secretaries of DFA, DOJ, DND, and DILG.
The removal of Vice President Sara from the NSC’s composition followed her bitter split from the once-formidable “Uniteam” tandem she formed with Marcos during the 2022 elections.