MANILA, Philippines — Former Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo has strongly criticized Vice President Sara Duterte’s removal from the National Security Council (NSC), calling it an act of “dirty politics.”
The NSC is the main advisory body that helps the government coordinate plans and policies to address national security issues. Recently, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) No. 81, reorganizing the NSC and excluding Vice President Sara Duterte, as well as three former presidents, from its membership.
Panelo described the decision as a calculated political move aimed at undermining the vice president’s influence.
Panelo’s Reaction
“The removal of VP Sara as a member of the National Security Council is an ill-advised presidential move,” Panelo said in his statement. “It reeks of dirty politics and is a bold attempt to diminish VP Sara’s political power.”
He also suggested that excluding former presidents, such as Sara Duterte’s father, Rodrigo Duterte, as well as Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Joseph Estrada, was a strategy to disguise the real target of the reorganization—Vice President Duterte herself.
“The removal of FPGMA (former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) and FPERAP (former president Joseph Estrada) from the NSC is a smokescreen to make it appear that VP Sara was not specifically targeted,” Panelo claimed.
Government’s Explanation
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin provided a different perspective. He explained that EO 81 was designed to reorganize and streamline the NSC’s structure to make it more efficient.
“At the moment, the vice president is not considered relevant to the responsibilities of membership in the NSC,” Bersamin stated. He added that the EO allows the president to appoint additional members or advisers when necessary.
According to the executive order, the goal is to ensure the NSC adapts to the country’s evolving security challenges, both locally and internationally.
The New NSC Structure
EO 81 replaces older executive orders issued in 1992 and 2001, which outlined the NSC’s structure. Under the new directive, the council will still be led by the president, but its membership is reduced. This marks the first time living former presidents, including Rodrigo Duterte (79), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (77), and Joseph Estrada (87), are excluded from participating in NSC meetings.
Implications and Reactions
Critics, including Panelo, see the move as a way to weaken Sara Duterte’s political standing. However, supporters of the decision argue it reflects a push for modernization and efficiency in addressing security concerns.
For now, the exclusion of Vice President Duterte and the former presidents raises questions about how politics influences decisions in national security matters. Whether this change will strengthen or weaken the NSC’s ability to protect the nation remains to be seen.
