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