President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is accompanied by Maj. General Rowen S. Tolentino, PA Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy during the Commencement Exercises of the PMA Bagong Sinag Class of 2024 in Fort Gen. Gregorio H. Del Pilar, in Baguio City on May 18, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173623422675820240518-pma-bagong-sinag-class-commencement-exercises-JC-12.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is accompanied by Maj. General Rowen S. Tolentino, PA Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy during the Commencement Exercises of the PMA Bagong Sinag Class of 2024 in Fort Gen. Gregorio H. Del Pilar, in Baguio City on May 18, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is accompanied by Maj. General Rowen S. Tolentino, PA Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy during the Commencement Exercises of the PMA Bagong Sinag Class of 2024 in Fort Gen. Gregorio H. Del Pilar, in Baguio City on May 18, 2024. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA —  Malacanang on Tuesday said it was &quot;malicious&quot; to claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s order to remove the vice president from the National Security Council (NSC) was a prelude to martial law. </p><p>Marcos removed the vice president and former presidents from the NSC to ensure that the body could adapt to evolving challenges.</p><p>But former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Facebook post last week: &quot;Uy, bakit wala [sa] NSC si VP Sara, Tatay [Digong], PGMA at Erap? Nung panahon ni Sr., ganito rin nung nagdeklara ng Martial Law. Mag take two kaya si Junior?&quot; </p><p>“Alam mo kung iniisip mo yan lagi, that’s malicious,&quot; Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in response. </p><p>&quot;The Constitution is very clear when may a President declare martial law. I don’t think that is in the mind of the President right now... Malicious talaga si Mr. Harry Roque,&quot; he said in a Palace briefing. </p><p>The Executive Secretary said that since NSC is an advisory body, Marcos has the right to ensure that whoever advises him has his fullest trust and confidence.</p><p>&quot;I am not saying that the Vice President does not anymore deserve to be trusted. But I am 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 onboard,” Bersamin said.</p><p>“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. So if the National Security Council is supposed to be including members who are trusted by the President, then let it be understood in that light,&quot; Bersamin said.</p><p>Duterte&#x27;s former spokesperson Salvador Panelo also slammed the NSC revamp, saying it &quot;smacks of dirty politics&quot; and was a &quot;brazen measure to diminish the political star power” of the Dutertes.</p><p>Bersamin said that Panelo did not have any &quot;moral authority&quot; to question the move of Marcos, noting that the former Palace official had once prevented then-Vice President Leni Robredo from attending NSC meetings.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/5/wrap-critics-link-national-security-council-revamp-to-2018-polls-dueling-dynasties-1959">WRAP: Critics link National Security Council revamp to 2028 polls, dueling dynasties</a></div><p>Panelo said Bersamin was &quot;misinformed.&quot; </p><p>&quot;I never advocated the exclusion of former VP Robredo in the National Security Council. She was in fact invited and attended the National Security Council meeting in July, 2016 together with four living Presidents (FVR, ERAP, PGMA, PBCA) at that time during the Duterte presidency,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT MILITARY SAYS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday reiterated its &quot;loyalty to the Constitution and the flag&quot; amid speculations of a rift within its ranks following the </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/3/marcos-jr-reorganizes-national-security-council-removes-vice-president-ex-presidents-from-panel-1501">Marcos Jr. reorganizes National Security Council, removes vice president, ex-presidents from panel</a></div><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week ordered the reorganization of the NSC to ensure that the body could adapt to evolving challenges.</p><p>AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military remained united and professional.</p><p>“We maintain that the AFP is united, professional and loyal to the Constitution and to the flag. We adhere to the Chain of Command,” Padilla told reporters during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.</p><p>Padilla also said that the country’s security sector remained intact following the reorganization, adding that critics were simply seeking to make headlines.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/6/nsc-denies-claim-that-rift-in-security-sector-led-to-its-shakeup-1526">NSC denies claim that &#x27;rift&#x27; in security sector led to its reorganization</a></div><p>“Whether there’s a political rift, this is a classic case of political intrigue. The security sector is united under the umbrella of the Chain of Command. Anything, rumors that other players are saying about this that is contrary to us being united are perpetrated by other players who just want to seek headlines,” she said.</p><div><strong>—With reports from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8d8mRfCavIg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Malacanang on Tuesday said it was "malicious" to claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s order to remove the vice president from the National Security Council (NSC) was a prelude to martial law.</p>

Malacanang on Tuesday said it was "malicious" to claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s order to remove the vice president from the National Security Council (NSC) was a prelude to martial law.

Palace: 'Malicious' to claim that NSC revamp a prelude to martial law | ABS-CBN

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Palace: 'Malicious' to claim that NSC revamp a prelude to martial law

Palace: 'Malicious' to claim that NSC revamp a prelude to martial law

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 07, 2025 03:24 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 07, 2025 04:32 PM PHT

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Armed Forces of the Philippines

loyalty

Constitution

National Security Council

reorganization

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NSC

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Bersamin

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