Former DILG Secretary Año sworn in as new National Security Adviser

Former Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año was sworn in as the new National Security Adviser, the Presidential Communications Office announced on Saturday.

According to the PCO, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. administered Año's oath of office.

Before serving as DILG Secretary during the administration of then President Rodrigo Duterte, Año served as Armed Forces Chief of Staff from December 2016 to October 2017.

He was also Commanding General of the Army being named to the post in 2015.

Año belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983.

He replaces Professor Clarita Carlos as NSA. 

According to the PCO, Carlos had decided to continue her pursuit of scholastic endeavors, joining the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) of the House of Representatives.

The CPBRD provides the House of Representatives with technical services in the formulation of national economic, fiscal, and social policies.

"I have realized that it is no longer politic to continue as NSA to the President," said Carlos in a statement. "And so, I have decided to migrate to another agency where my expertise on foreign, defense, and security policy will be of use and I shall continue to help build a better Philippines."

Año's designation as NSA is the latest in a series of recent appointments to government security positions.

On January 6, General Andres Centino was brought back as AFP Chief of Staff, replacing Lieutenant General Bartolome Bacarro.

On January 9, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. was named Department of National Defense Secretary, replacing then DND officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. — DVM, GMA Integrated News