Marcos removes VP, past presidents in NSC reorganization

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has reorganized the National Security Council, removing the Vice President and past presidents in its composition. 

In signing Executive Order No. 81, Marcos said there is a need to further guarantee that NSC remains a resilient national security institution, capable of adapting to evolving challenges and opportunities both here and abroad, and to ensure that NSC members “uphold and protect national security and sovereignty, thereby fostering an environment conducive to effective governance and stability.”

Under the latest Marcos' directive, the NSC will be composed of the following: 

• President as chairperson;
• Senate President;
• Speaker of the House of Representatives;
• Senate President Pro-Tempore;
• Three 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; and
• Such other government officials and private citizens as the President may appoint or designate from time to time.

Meanwhile, the executive committee shall be composed of the following: 

• President as chairperson;
• Executive Secretary;
• 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; and 
• Such other members or advisers as the President may designate from time to time.

Executive Order No. 330 issued on July 1, 1950 created the NSC, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

On the other hand, Executive Order No. 115 issued on December 24, 1986 reorganized the NSC and defined its membership, functions, and authority.

Under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Executive Order No. 34, the Vice President was part of the NSC composition.

GMA News Online asked the PCO for reason over the reorganization of the NSC.

In a brief statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said at the moment, the Vice President is ''not considered relevant to the responsibilities of membership in the NSC.''

Bersamin said the President, however, has the power to add members to the composition of the NSC as needed.

''Nonetheless, when the need arises, the EO reserves to the President the power to add members or advisers,'' he said.

To recall, the NSC said it considers all threats to Marcos as serious and a matter of national security after Vice President Sara Duterte made a kill remark against the First Couple and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Duterte, in return, had questioned why as a member of the NSC, she was not invited to the meetings of the council, which National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said is “closely coordinating with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the nature of the threat, the possible perpetrators, and their motives.” 

GMA News Online sought Duterte for comment but she has yet to reply as of posting time.

The Vice President earlier clarified that her remark against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Romualdez was not a threat but only highlighting the supposed threat against her security.—AOL, GMA Integrated News