CONFLICT RAGES ON: Marcos removes Duterte from National Security Council

National

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially removed Vice President Sara Duterte from the National Security Council (NSC) in a move that signals further strain in their once-close political relationship.

The change came through Executive Order No. 81, signed on December 30, 2024, which reorganized the NSC, a body tasked with advising the President on national security matters.

In the new executive order, Marcos emphasized the need for the NSC to remain resilient and adaptable in addressing evolving national and international security challenges.

He pointed to the growing threat of China's activities in the West Philippine Sea as a significant concern for the administration.

While the Marcos government has strengthened ties with the United States, Duterte’s past pro-China stance, including her limited criticism of Chinese incursions in Philippine waters, has been a point of contention.

Duterte’s exclusion from the NSC follows her resignation as Education Secretary and departure from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in July 2024, signaling her diminishing role within the administration.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin clarified that the reorganization was aimed at streamlining the NSC’s membership to better address national security concerns.

The restructured NSC includes high-ranking officials from the executive and legislative branches but excludes the Vice President and former presidents, including her father, Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte has been vocal about her exclusion, questioning the NSC’s transparency and its legal basis for omitting her from meetings.

Despite this, the NSC maintains that the decision was made to enhance national security policy formulation and address emerging threats more effectively.

The reorganization of the NSC follows a series of tensions between the Vice President and the President’s office, which have been further complicated by Duterte’s controversial remarks about threats against Marcos and other officials.(CMM)