Pimentel: National security meet with presidents ‘very productive’

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Aquilino “Koko” III Pimentel on Thursday disclosed that the National Security Council (NSC) Meeting of the new administration and four former presidents was “very productive.”

Although he refused to share further details on the minutes of the meeting presided by President Rodrigo Duterte, Pimentel described the meeting as “very successful, very productive and very long.”

The senator said the meeting started at 3 p.m. and ended at 8 p.m.

Pimentel said the key issues discussed were the peace process, the recent ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the West Philippine Sea dispute and the new administration’s fight against illegal drugs.

“I will just give you the topics, because before we left, the president said na kung puwedeng 'wag nang ilabas sa room yung pinagusapan. The topics were the West Philippine Sea, the roadmap to peace with the Mindanao secession and the CPP-NPA-NDF, and the war against drugs. 'Yun po ang mga topic,” Pimentel said in a released transcript of the ambush interview.

“The atmosphere was serious but then the president has his way of lightening the atmosphere,” he added.

The NSC meeting was attended by four former presidents: special envoy to China Fidel Ramos, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III. Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate also attended.

Pimentel said the presence of the former presidents was essential and contributed to the productivity of the meeting as they provided inputs. He expressed hopes that the meeting will happen often since for him “it is a consultative process being a democracy.”

“Actually yung National Security Council meeting is for inputs. You don't make decisions there, hindi naman raise your right hand, those in favor of, hindi po ganun. Inputs po,” Pimentel said.

“‘Yung apat na former presidents, with their experience and the past inputs that they have accepted are obtained, so they have wisdom. Yun po. Free-flowing naman ang usapan. Very productive,” he added.

RELATED: 5 Philippine presidents, often rivals, unite to discuss China | IN PHOTOS: All living Philippine presidents reunite for security council meet