Critics hit for linking Sara’s removal from NSC to politics

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday lashed back at critics who linked to politics and martial law the removal of administration ally-turned-arch critic Vice President Sara Duterte from the National Security Council (NSC), saying President Marcos must fully trust the people he listens to for advice.

The Marcos administration excluded Duterte and former presidents from the NSC through Executive Order 81 issued late last month, drawing flak from allies of the Vice President, who viewed it as a politically motivated move meant to reduce her clout.

Salvador Panelo, who served as chief presidential legal counsel under the Vice President’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, described the NSC reorganization as a “brazen” measure aimed at diminishing the Vice President’s “political star power.”

Another Duterte ally, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, went as far as questioning whether the Vice President’s removal from the NSC is a prelude to martial law, saying Marcos’ late father and namesake did the same before imposing military rule.

Speaking to Palace reporters, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the NSC is an advisory body in relation to the President as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, so Marcos has the right and responsibility to see to it that whoever advises him has his full trust and confidence.

“I’m not saying that the Vice President … does not anymore deserve to be trusted. But I’m just saying that with the recent developments, it is not going to be good advice or good action on the part of the President to still have her on board,” Bersamin said at a press briefing at Malacañang.

“Now, anyway, the President has the absolute power, the power of absolute reorganization – meaning, he can choose the people he listens to or he would listen to,” he added.

The EO introducing changes to the composition of the NSC came as the Marcos administration and the Dutertes are embroiled in a widening political rift that became evident when the Vice President resigned from the Cabinet last year.

Duterte, who ran alongside Marcos during the 2022 elections under the UniTeam coalition, is now facing three impeachment complaints over a number of issues, including her alleged failure to properly account for the confidential funds granted to her office, and her statement that she had contracted an assassin to kill Marcos.

“If the National Security Council is supposed to be including members who are trusted by the President, then let it be understood in that line. There is nothing personal here, but my statement before was the Vice President has ceased to be relevant as far as the responsibilities of that membership in the National Security Council is concerned,” Bersamin said.

The executive secretary also hit back at notions that the revamp of the NSC had something to do with politics and martial law.

He described as “malicious” the insinuation that Marcos reorganized the NSC because he wanted to emulate his late father who placed the Philippines under military rule in the 1970s.

“If you think about that all the time, that’s malicious because the Constitution is very clear when a president may declare martial law. I don’t think it is in the mind of the President right now. What he has in mind is the economic prosperity of the country, the health and welfare of the people, especially those of the lower classes and the prioritization of his legacy projects. The President accepts that as the number one concern,” Bersamin said.

“It’s not about martial law. It’s not about extending himself in power. No, he has no thinking about that. He does not even think in those terms. Mr. Roque is really malicious,” he added.

The executive secretary also slammed Panelo over his criticisms against the NSC revamp, saying he has no moral authority to question Marcos’ decision.

“I have read something that reminded me that Panelo, during his time as (chief) presidential (legal) adviser, also advocated the exclusion of then vice president Leni Robredo,” Bersamin said.

Sought for reaction, Panelo said Bersamin was “misinformed.”

“I never advocated the exclusion of former (vice president) Robredo in the National Security Council. She was in fact invited and attended the National Security Council meeting in July 2016,” Panelo said.