President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. decided to make changes to the National Security Council (NSC) by removing Vice President Sara Duterte and former presidents from its list of members. He signed a new rule, called Executive Order (EO) 81, on December 30. The order was meant to help the NSC handle changing security issues both inside the Philippines and around the world.
Marcos explained that the NSC needs to be able to handle new and changing problems related to national security. The president wants to make sure the council is strong, and that its members are working together to keep the country safe and secure. The new order says the NSC should help the country stay stable and have effective leaders.
The NSC will now include the president as the leader, along with many other important officials. These officials come from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as key government departments like the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of National Defense (DND), and others.
Some of the main changes are:
- Vice President Sara Duterte is no longer part of the NSC.
- The council’s “executive committee” no longer includes the vice president either.
- Several new members have been added, including leaders from the Senate and House of Representatives, and key government officials like the national security adviser and secretaries of important government departments.
This new rule, EO 81, takes effect immediately, and it aims to make the NSC better at responding to any challenges that could affect the country’s security.
In the past, the NSC was known as the Council of National Defense before it became the NSC in 1986. It is an important group that gives advice on plans and policies to protect the country’s safety and interests.
