PSG removed from government intel body

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has reorganized the National Intelligence Committee (NIC) to promote better coordination among security agencies.

The reorganization was contained in Administrative Order No. 7 issued last Sept. 22.

Duterte included the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Office for Transportation Security in the committee. 

The Presidential Security Group is no longer part of the interagency committee. 

Under Duterte’s order, the NIC will still be led by the director general of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

The committee will be composed of the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, PDEA, PCG and OTS. 

“The country’s internal and external security situation necessitates greater interagency collaboration in the collection, fusion and production of accurate, relevant, reliable and timely intelligence for the formulation of national security policies by the President and the National Security Council,” the order read. 

“There is a need to provide more focused and clearer delineation of tasks among units/agencies involved in the gathering of intelligence on national security issues and concerns,” it added.

The NIC was formed through AO No. 68 issued in 2003. It was intended to serve as an advisory body to the director-general of NICA.