Pres. Bongbong Marcos Reorganizes National Security Council (NSC)
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President issued an order mandating the removal of the vice president and the former presidents in the National Security Council (NSC).
The Philippine Chief Executive’s principal forum with regards to the national security concerns is the National Security Council or more popularly called NSC. Recently, Pres. Marcos made changes on the NSC which caught the attention of several known personalities in the political arena.
Pres. Marcos issued the Executive Order No. 81 which stated the necessity to ensure “that the NSC remains a resilient national security institution, capable of adapting to evolving challenges and opportunities both domestically and internationally, and to ensure that its council members uphold and protect national security and sovereignty, thereby fostering an environment conducive to effective governance and stability.”
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Pres. Bongbong Marcos signed the Executive Order No. 81 last December 30, 2024 and it was released on January 3, 2025. The changes that the Chief Executive wanted in the National Security Council (NSC) includes its reorganization. The NSC is now composed of the following under the President’s newest mandate:
- President as Chairperson
- Senate President
- Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Senate President Pro-Tempore
- Three (3) 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
- Other government officials and private citizens as the President may appoint or designate from time to time
As per the report, in case there is a need to meet, the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Chief of the Philippine National Police, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shall attend discussions with the other NSC members
There are also changes on the Executive Committee of the National Security Council under the E.O. released by Pres. Bongbong Marcos. The ExeCom of the NSC is now composed of the following:
- President as Chairperson
- ExecutiveSecretary
- Senate President or his representative
- Speaker of the House of Representatives or his representative
- 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
- Other members or advisers as the President may designate from time to time
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has yet to react on the removal of the VP from the NSC. Since she resigned from being the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), the public witnessed a souring relationship between Vice Pres. Duterte and Pres. Marcos.