Never say never

There was nothing unexpected in Vice President Sara Duterte being officially removed as a member of the National Security Council (NSC).

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

Also removed as regular members of the country's highest policy-making body on national security matters and concerns such as issues pertaining to our West Philippine Sea (WPS) were the three living past presidents of the country.

These included VP Sara's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and chief ally, ex-president and now Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA). The only other living former president is Joseph Estrada, who has quietly retired from politics.

The easing out of VP Sara from the NSC came a few weeks after she publicly revealed having contracted someone to carry out assassination on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (PBBM) and his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

VP Sara later argued her threat was sort of "conditional" – if she dies suspiciously while in office. A lawyer by profession, VP Sara maintains her public declaration cannot be considered as an assassination plot.

Nonetheless, no amount of arguments can erase the fact that the message was delivered. It was just the natural consequence of political decisions and statements that have ramifications, even to the NSC if the VP continues to sit in this body.

Not being part of the NSC was a fait accompli already for VP Sara herself.

In an open letter in November last year, VP Sara questioned the NSC for investigating her assassination threat against PBBM. "As a member of the National Security Council (EO 115 Dec. 24, 1986), I do not recall receiving a single notice of meeting since 30 June 2022. I request the NSA to please send to me the notarized minutes of all meetings conducted by the Council from 30 June 2022, if any. I want to review what the council has accomplished so far, in terms of policies and recommendations for national security," VP Sara demanded.