President Duterte, with VP Leni Robredo at his side, presides over Wednesday's first National Security Council Meeting. HANDOUT PHOTO FROM OVP
The first National Security Council meeting called by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Wednesday afternoon tackled issues related to the West Philippine Sea, the peace process with Mindanao and New People’s Army rebels, and the war on drugs, according to Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
In an interview Thursday after the swearing in Justice Secretary Vitallano Aguirre as the newest member of the PDP-Laban, Pimentel said the meeting - lasting for five hours and attended by four former presidents - was very successful and very productive.
The meeting began around 3pm., and ended around past 8pm. The post-EDSA former presidents in attendance, were: Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III.
“The atmosphere was serious, but then the President has his way of lightening the atmosphere,” Pimentel said.
However, Pimentel said they were directed by President Duterte not to divulge any specific details regarding the outcome of the meeting, as most of these involved national security matters.
“I will just give you the topic, because before we left the President said na kung puwede, wag nang ilabas ng room iyong pinag-usapan. The topics were West Philippine Sea, the roadmap to peace with Mindanao secession and the CPP/NPA/NDF, and the war against drugs. Yun po ang topic,” Pimentel told reporters.
Pimentel also said he will meet with senators regarding the possible legislative actions on the results of the meeting to give Duterte the legal mandate to enforce it.
“Ganito 'yun, there were around seven senators present yata, if I'm not mistaken. We will have to discuss kung ano yong napulot namin doon which needs legislative interventions. So ngayon, I cannot say kung ano doon,” Pimentel said.
It had directions, substance
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson, who attended the meeting as chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said the NSC meeting went very well.
“It had direction, it had substance, it had consensus and unity of purpose,” Lacson said.
As usual, Lacson added, it was "vintage Rody" presiding, who punctuated the serious discussions with ad libs, not to mention the asides and not-so-subtle sniping at his favorite critic.
“The unprecedented presence of four former heads of state added to the luster of the occasion, but not without their own valuable input on what the country needs to do to advance our national interest in regard to the arbitral tribunal ruling on the West Philippine Sea issue, the peace talks and the fight against illegal drugs,” Lacson said.
Convene LEDAC
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto urged President Duterte to convene the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to map his legislative agenda.
“Judging by how he appreciated the views shared by the attendees yesterday, we can expect more groups to be convened as his sounding board,” Recto said.
One of which, Recto added, is the LEDAC which was mothballed in the past 6 years. He can revive this as a productive forum to discuss policy, Recto said.
“I have been asked to describe his style of running high-level meetings. He can be focused one moment and funny the next. It is both educational and entertaining. This guy’s thought process is good. He knows when to summarize points and where to shepherd the discussion,” Recto said.
Also Recto said that Duterte had his comedian’s gift of timing on when to crack jokes to break the monotony of long meetings.
“He gave great inputs, and with his humor, in-house entertainment as well,” Recto said.
http://interaksyon.com/article/130862/that-1st-nsc-meeting--serious-topics-of-wps-peace-roadmap-war-on-drugs-punctuated-by-rodys-wit
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