NATIONAL SECURITY

A state or condition wherein the people’s welfare, well-being, ways of life; government and
its institutions; territorial integrity; sovereignty, and core values are enhanced and protected.

A. OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTRY’S NATIONAL SECURITY SITUATION

In this world that we living in, we are not assure for our safety which it’s already
dependable on us on how to deal with a thing such a physical defenses for us to be aware and
less harm. But, National Security exist and for now, we can assure that we’re already protected
by them.
Security is a relative condition of protection in which one is able to counteract perceptible
threats against the existence of someone or something with reasonable expectation of success. 
Protection measures must retain some proportionality in relation to perceived threats to
the existence, effectiveness, and autonomy of who or what is protected. 
For the Philippines and the Filipino people, national security is defined as "a state or
condition wherein the people's welfare, well-being, ways of life; government and its institutions;
territorial integrity; sovereignty; and core values are enhanced and protected”. 
The total protection of everything against everything and is not only impossible from the
material and psychological point of view, but undesirable as a totalitarian pretension. For
national security, it is understood here as a relative condition of collective and individual
protection of the members of a society against threats to their survival and autonomy. To the
extent that being secure in this context means living in a state that is reasonably capable of
neutralizing vital threats through negotiation, obtaining information on capabilities and
intentions, through the use of extraordinary measures and the range of options related to the use
of force.
Now let’s talk about our country’s national security situation
The National Security Council (NSC) is the principal advisory body on the proper
coordination and integration of plans and policies affecting national security.
The Council was created during the Quirino Administration through Executive Order
(EO) No. 330, dated 01 July 1950. It was reorganized by virtue of EO No. 115, series of 1986.

At the end of 2020-2021, these are the situations our country encountered.
1. Unending Drug War. 

According to official government figures, members of the Philippine National Police and
the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency killed 5,903 individuals during anti-drug
operations from July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2020. Based on statistics released by the
government through its #RealNumbersPH, “drug war” killings increased by over 50
percent during the lockdown months from April to July. Among those severely affected
by the “drug war” violence are children left behind by the victims. Up until now,
 President Duterte continues to encourage the killings, ordering customs officials in
September to kill alleged drug smugglers. He also regularly denounced and dismissed
groups that criticize the “war on drugs,” accusing them of “weaponizing human rights.”

2. Political Killings, Threats, and Harassments

On June 4, High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published a report that
found “numerous systematic human rights violations” in the Philippines, among them the
killing of 208 human rights defenders and activists since 2015. In July, President Duterte
signed a new Anti-Terrorism Law. The law contains overbroad and vague provisions that
the government can use to unjustly target critics. Among its provisions is the creation of a
government-appointed Anti-Terrorism Council that can designate a person or a group as a
terrorist, making them immediately liable to be arrested without warrant or charges and
be detained for up to 24 days.

3. Death Penalty

The Philippine government began in 2020 to seriously consider legislation to reinstate the
death penalty. Some people want to implement the “Death Penalty” but it’s not easy due
to the various rules implemented by the Roman Catholic on the “Ten Commandments”.
The move in Congress came a week after President Duterte used his State of the Nation
Address in July to call for capital punishment by lethal injection for drug offenders.
Reinstating the death penalty would violate the Second Optional Protocol to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Philippines
ratified in 2007. 

4. COVID-19

This is the worst situation we’ve encounter because of non-stop spreading of virus. Since
March 16, the government has imposed varying types of quarantines and lockdowns to
contain the spread of the virus. Abuses reported include local officials putting curfew
violators in dog cages or exposing them to hours sitting in the summer sun as a form of
punishment. Two children who were arrested after curfew were put inside a coffin by
local officials. Many people arrested for violating Covid-19 regulations were thrown into
overcrowded detention facilities where social distancing is impossible, increasing their
risk of contracting the virus. Implementing protocols such as using facemask and face
shield, social distancing, sanitize, wash appropriately and etc. in order to consume
ourselves and not being able to contaminate with the virus.

THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY 

See: Chapter 4, National Security Challenges, NSP 
-  any expression of intuition to inflict evil, injury, or damage to national security. 
-  dangers to the components of national security and stability 
 
3.3.1 Internal 
I.  Law and Order, and Administration of Justice 
-  Criminality and Crimes against person: High crime rate, decreasing ability 
of the police to solve crime 
-  Illegal Drugs 
-  corruption and patronage politics  
ii.  Internal Armed Conflicts 
-  Communist insurgency: 
▪ Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)- New People’s Army 
(NPA)- National Democratic Front (NDF/P):  one of the world’s 
longest running communist insurgencies and has claimed an 
estimated 30,000 lives since the 1960s. 
-  Secessionist movement 
▪ Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – the largest and most 
organized of the myriad radical groups operating in Mindanao 
iii.  Terrorism and Transnational Crimes 
-  Local Terrorist Groups 
▪ Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)- Islamist extremist organization known for 
its bandit-like tactics and notorious for beheadings and kidnap-for 
ransom activities in Mindanao.
THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY 
See: Chapter 4, National Security Challenges, NSP 
-  any expression of intuition to inflict evil, injury, or damage to national security. 
-  dangers to the components of national security and stability 
 
3.3.1 Internal 
I.  Law and Order, and Administration of Justice 
-  Criminality and Crimes against person: High crime rate, decreasing ability 
of the police to solve crime 
-  Illegal Drugs 
-  corruption and patronage politics  
ii.  Internal Armed Conflicts 
-  Communist insurgency: 
▪ Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)- New People’s Army 
(NPA)- National Democratic Front (NDF/P):  one of the world’s 
longest running communist  insurgencies  and  has  claimed  an 
estimated 30,000 lives since the 1960s. 
-  Secessionist movement 
▪  Moro  Islamic  Liberation  Front  (MILF)  –  the  largest  and  most 
organized of the myriad radical groups operating in Mindanao 
iii.  Terrorism and Transnational Crimes 
-  Local Terrorist Groups 
▪  Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)- Islamist extremist organization known for 
its bandit-like tactics and notorious for beheadings and kidnap-for 
ransom activities in Mindanao.

THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY

any expression of intuition to inflict evil, injury, or damage to national security. 
-  dangers to the components of national security and stability
These are any expression of intuition to inflict evil, injury, or damage to national security.
These are dangers to the components of national security and stability. The national security
sector needs to give focused attention to several major internal and external issues and challenges
confronting the Philippine society.
B. INTERNAL THREATS
A. Law and Order, and Administration of Justice 
- Criminality and Crimes against person: Philippines’ crime rate is considered as one of the
highest in Southeast and East Asia and it has constrained the country’s overall development
potential. While the number of reported crimes, has been rising, the ability of the police to solve
crime has decreased.
-  Corruption and Patronage politics: The twin scourge of corruption and patronage politics
plaguing law enforcement institutions and government sector as a whole has made it extremely
hard, if not impossible, to bring the crime rate down. 
-  Illegal Drugs: Researches show that a strong and direct correlation between crimes, especially
serious or violent ones, and drug abuse. Thus, fighting crime should also involve a resolute
crusade to stamp out drug abuse. 

B. Internal Armed Conflicts 

-  Communist insurgency: the communist rebellion being waged by the 
 Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)- New People’s Army (NPA)- National
Democratic Front (NDF/P):  one of the world’s longest running communist
insurgencies and has claimed an estimated 30,000 lives since the 1960s. 
And it continues to pose serious peace and order problems in the country.
-  Secessionist movement: the Muslim separatist struggle being waged by non-state armed
groups and extremist movements remains a major source of instability in resource rich but
impoverished parts of Mindanao.
 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – the largest and most organized of the myriad
radical groups operating in Mindanao 
C.  Terrorism and Transnational Crimes 
International terrorism and transnational crime pose a direct threat to the security of
individual countries and to international peace and prosperity.  
-  Local Terrorist Groups: Philippines faces continuing threats from terrorism, both of foreign
and domestic. Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) remains as the foremost terror group actively inflicting
severe socio-political and economic disruptions.
 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)- Islamist extremist organization known for its bandit-like
tactics and notorious for beheadings and kidnap-for ransom activities in Mindanao.
 Ansar al-Khilafah Philippines (AKP), Maute Group, and Daesh-inspired entities 
Moreover, the archipelagic attritubes, the philippines’ borders are porous and vulnerable to the
activities of international crime syndicate. 
-  Organized Crime Syndicates conducting illegal transborder activities 
include: 
 drug trafficking; 
 human trafficking of children, women, illegal migrants and labor;  
 illegal fishing/ poaching; 
 arms smuggling; 
 money laundering; and 
 wildlife trafficking. 

D.  Economic and Social Threats 

-  Poverty 
-  Graft and corruption 
-  Resource Security (Food, Human Resources, Energy and Water) 
-  Infectious disease (HIV/AIDS, MersCov, SARS, COVID-19)

C. EXTERNAL THREATS
Overlapping Territorial Claims and Maritime Domain Issues 
-  The West Philippine Sea and elsewhere 
-  Encroachments into PHL EEZ  
▪ hostile forces  at  sea, pirates,  terrorists,  traffickers,  illegal  fishers, 
and other environmental transgressors 
ii.  Global and Regional Geopolitical Issues 
-  United States, Japan, ASEAN, China and Others (South Korea, Australia, 
Russia and India) 
▪  intensifying conflicts in  the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) 
region,  
▪  persisting tension in the Korean Peninsula, 
▪  unresolved territorial disputes in Northeast and Southeast-Asia,  
▪  unsettled Sabah issue,  
▪  China-Taiwan/ China-Japan/ Japan-South Korea conflicts 
▪  power rivalries contesting and threatening United States 
 
iii.  Global Uncertainties and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction 
-  Increased Global Economic Uncertainties 
▪  potential for global economic recessions 
▪  slowdown in major economies of the world such as the US, China 
and the European Union 
-  Global Security Issues and the Welfare of OFWs 
▪  Conflicts abroad and protection of OFWs from illegal recruitment, 
human  trafficking,  ill-treatment  and  human  rights  violations,  and 
unfair labor practices, among others. 
-  Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction 
▪  WMDs  are  classified  into  three  major  types:  nuclear  weapons, 
chemical warfare agents, and biological warfare agents. 
▪  Nations currently in possession of such WMDs are China, France, 
India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, United Kingdom, and 
the United States - and a number of states are believed to possess 
chemical and/or biological warfare agents
A. Overlapping Territorial Claims and Maritime Domain Issues 
The country needs to address the disputes concerning maritime boundaries as they affect a
complex range of national security concerns as well as threaten regional peace and stability. The
Philippines must ensure good order within its sea boundaries and develop appropriate maritime
domain awareness and response force capability to address the presence of
-  Encroachments into PHL EEZ such as
 hostile forces at sea, pirates, terrorists, traffickers, illegal fishers, and other environmental
transgressors
-  The West Philippine Sea remains to be the foremost security challenge to the Philippines'
sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Philippines will tread with prudence on this complex
and delicate issue and will carefully calibrate its diplomatic moves to avert the costly
consequences of any potential outbreak of armed confrontations in the disputed sea region.
B. Global and Regional Geopolitical Issues 
In addition to the WPS issue, there are other inter- and intra-states flashpoints of
immediate concern to the Philippines. Global and regional geopolitical issues may lead cyber and
physical attacks between the countries. Which may cause another war.
C.  Global Uncertainties and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction 
-  Increased Global Economic Uncertainties:  The present trends show that the potential for
global economic recessions has increased significantly. The slowdown in major economies of the
world will have an impact on every country in the world including the Philippines. Economic
downturns abroad could temper demand for Philippine exports, slow down foreign investments
and hurt the overall business climate in the country.
-  Global Security Issues and the Welfare of OFWs: Conflicts abroad and other emerging global
security threats pose a direct danger to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who contribute
significantly to the national economy, accounting for most of the country's net factor income
from abroad (NFIA) through their remittances. The Government must exert continuing effort to
promote and protect the rights and welfare of our OFWs, particularly victims of illegal
recruitment, human trafficking, ill-treatment and unfair labor practices, among others.
-  Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Scientific and technological breakthroughs are
creating wealth and progress everywhere, but are also spawning new and increasingly dangerous
triggers for global insecurity. Among the most serious of these threats is the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), which has come to occupy center stage in international
politics. WMDs are classified into three major types:  nuclear weapons, chemical warfare agents,
and biological warfare agents.  Nations currently in possession of such WMDs are China,
France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States -
and a number of states are believed to possess chemical and/or biological warfare agents. WMDs
pose an unprecedented risk in terms of their potential for large-scale destruction and the
indiscriminate nature of their effects.
D. ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY
Youth is the joy. Youth is a phase in which small children that have come out of their
protective shells and are ready to spread their wings in the world of hope and dreams. Youth
means to cherish hope. It is a time of development. It is the time for growth and change. Youth
plays an important role in the development of our society. “Youth of today are leaders of
tomorrow” is true and applicable in each and every aspect. The youth lays the foundation of
development for any of the nations. Youth is that stage in the life of an individual, filled up with
several capabilities and potential of learning along with performing. The vision of our country
lies in the hands of our youths.
 
Role of the Youth
 
Get a good education. In order to become better citizens of tomorrow. They need to learn skills
to do the job that their country’s economy needs. They also need to know how to read, write,
think, understand, analyze, and discuss the issues their country faces. The entire success of the
nation depends on the youths.
 
To be a fighter. They fight for an identity in society, equality, the homeless, bullying,
unemployment, exploitation, poverty and other problems which the world faces today. All of
them hopes for a world full of opportunities, so great minds can conquer them and become better
individuals. There also a lot of crime taking place. Women are being killed by their abusive
husbands. Person’s homes, businesses, are being broken into. All of this crime and violence
needs to stop. The youth once more has the ability to bring about a change in their country.
 
To be the voice of the nation. Youth are considered to be the voice of the nation. The youths are
like raw material or resources to the nation. The way they are shaped, they are likely to emerge
in the same manner. The youth is filled up with mind talents and creativity. If they raise their
voice on any issue, are successful in bringing the transformation.
 
Thinking Before Taking Action: Youth must not be impulsive. It is very important to think
before taking action. This is how the youth will be able to create a thoughtful society.
 
Character Driven: Character builds up a nation. The young people need to be morally strong,
reflective individuals and dedicated which will drive them to take correct actions for the nation.
 
Fearless: The youth must be courageous in taking action. Fearless youth can fight injustice.
 
Goal Oriented: The youth needs to be focused on their goals that he wants to accomplish. When
the young generation is goal oriented, then their vision and mission become very clear.
 
Youth is the future of the society.  The young generation simply needs to renew, refresh
and maintain the current status of the society. When the youth contributes his ideas and energy to
resolve the social issues, he becomes a capable leader and can also make a difference in the lives
of others. They must have the courage to resolve the mournful contradictions that are plaguing
the society and boldly take on great challenges without shunning the subsequent problems and
difficulties that they will inevitably face.

E. ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SECURITY

From the preamble, and the president’s remarks, the government has identified eight national
security interests that amplify its concept of national security. These interests serve as the
government’s strategic focus and shall be accorded appropriate to government’s planning and
resource allocation.

 Public Safety, Law and Order and Justice

The most fundamental duties of the State are to ensure public safety, maintain law and
order, and dispense social justice within the purview of the constitutionally enshrined
principles of democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights by strengthening the
five pillars of the criminal justice system.

 Socio-Political Stability
Peace prevails and cooperation and support exist between the Government and the people
under an atmosphere of mutual respect and empathy, bound by a strong notion of
nationhood and a sense of duty to respect the rule of law and serve the common good.

 Territorial Integrity
The territory of the country is intact and inviolable, and under the effective control and
jurisdiction of the Philippine Government.
 Economic Solidarity and Sustainable Development
The economy is strong, capable of supporting national endeavors, and derives its strength
from the solidarity of our people who have an organic stake in it through participation
and ownership.

 Ecological Balance
The environment is able to support sustainable development strategies for the benefit of
the nation and the people who depend on it for existence.

 Cultural Cohesiveness
The people share the values and beliefs handed down by their forebears and possess a
strong sense of attachment to national community despite their religious, ethnic and
linguistic differences.

 Moral and Spiritual Consensus

There is moral and spiritual consensus on the wisdom and righteousness of the national
vision and they are inspired by their patriotism and national pride to participate
vigorously in the pursuit of the country’s goals and objectives.

 International Peace and Cooperation

The country and the people enjoy cordial relations with their neighbors, and they are free
from any control, interference or threat of aggression from any of them.