• Office of Rep. Edcel C. Lagman
• 0916 640 6737 / 4155455

                 It is imperative that President Aquino convene soonest the National Security Council (NSC) to rationally and effectively address the escalating carnage being repeatedly committed by MILF rebels against government soldiers and civilians.

                President Corazon C. Aquino on 24 December 1986 issued Executive Order No. 115 reorganizing the NSC “purposely to formulate and adopt policies, programs and procedures on all matters pertaining to or affecting the national security so that judgements and actions thereon by the President may rest on sound advice and accurate information.”

               The President must not rely on the bungling assessment of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the amateurish pronouncements of Presidential spokepersons.

                The NSC is composed of the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Executive Secretary, the Secretary of National Defense, the Secretary of Justice, the Secretary of Labor and Employment, the Secretary of Local Government, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and such other government officials and private citizens as the President may designate from time to time.

               The NSC shall be the “lead agency of the government for coordinating the formulation of policies relating to or with implications on the national security.”

               The NSC is also tasked “to evaluate and analyze all information, events, and incidents in terms of the risks they pose or implications upon and/or threats to the overall security and stability of the nation, for the purpose of recommending to the President appropriate responses thereto and/or action thereon.”

               After 16 months in office the President has not yet convened the NSC despite the occurrences of serious events threatening or involving the national security.