MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has restructured the National Security Council (NSC) through Executive Order No. 81, removing the Vice President and former presidents from the advisory body in a move aimed at streamlining the country’s principal forum for addressing national security matters.

Signed on December 30, 2024, EO 81 reorganized the NSC, which was previously composed of 26 officials from the Executive and Legislative branches, with the President serving as its Chairman.

“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.” The Executive Order said.

Prior to reorganization, the NSC also includes former presidents Rodrigo Duterte, as well as Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Joseph Estrada.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin justified the new Executive Order, explaining that the removal of the Vice President from the advisory body aims to “reorganize and streamline the membership of the NSC.”

“At the moment, the VP is not considered relevant to the responsibilities of membership in the NSC,” he said.

“Nonetheless, when the need arises, the EO reserves to the President the power to add members or advisers,” he added.

Key Changes in NSC Composition

Under the new directive of the President, the new NSC composition under EO 81 includes:
• President (Chairperson)
• Senate President
• House Speaker

• Senate President Pro Tempore
  • Three Deputy Speakers (to be designated by the House Speaker)
  • Majority and Minority Leaders of both the Senate and House
  • Chairpersons of key Senate and House Committees (Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Public Order, etc.)
  • Executive Secretary
  • National Security Adviser
  • Secretaries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, National Defense, Interior and Local Government, and Labor
  • Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
• Presidential Communications Secretary
  • Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Head
  • Other government officials and private citizens as designated by the President

“The Director-General of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Chief of the Philippine National Police, and the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation shall attend the meetings of the Council as may be necessary to advise and assist in its deliberations,” the order said.

“The Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may also be invited to participate in the NSC,” the order added.

The removal of the Vice President and former Presidents marks a departure from past administrations, including former Presidents Fidel Ramos through EO 33 (1992) and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s EO 34 (2001), which had previously included these positions in the NSC.

📷 Presidential Communications Office