MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s recent reorganization of the National Security Council (NSC) is not a prelude to martial law, according to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
It is malicious for the administration’s critics to say that the Chief Executive is trying to copy the act of his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Bersamin stressed.
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Marcos Jr. may be eyeing military rule following the removal of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and past Philippine presidents as members of the NSC.
“Kung iniisip mo iyan lagi, that’s malicious. The Constitution is very clear when may a President declare martial law. I don’t think it’s in the mind of the President right now,” Bersamin said.
He added: “What he has in his 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.”
“It’s not about martial law. It’s not about extending himself. No, he has no thinking about that. He does not even think in those terms,” Bersamin further said.
Marcos Jr. on Dec. 30, 2024 issued Executive Order (EO) 81, reconstituting the NSC to ensure that the council members “uphold and protect national security and sovereignty, thereby fostering an environment conducive to effective governance and stability.”
According to EO 81, the NSC was reorganized so the council could remain “a resilient national security institution, capable of adapting to evolving challenges and opportunities both domestically and internationally.”
Bersamin also stressed that President Marcos, having the power of absolute reorganization, “can choose the people he listens to or he would listen to.”
“Look at it this way, the National Security Council is an advisory body and this is an advisory body in relation to the President as the commander-in-chief, so the President has the right, as well as the responsibility, of seeing to it that whoever advises him is within his fullest trust and confidence,” he said.
“I’m not saying that the Vice President does not anymore deserve to be trusted. But I’m just saying that with the recent development, it is not going to be good advice or good action on the President to still have her on board,” Bersamin added./PN
