Reorganizing the National Intelligence Committee to Provide Greater Unity and Cohesion of the Intelligence Community

September 22, 2017

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 7

REORGANIZING THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE GREATER UNITY AND COHESION OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 68 (S. 2003), AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the country's internal and external security situation necessitates greater inter-agency 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 (NSC);

WHEREAS, 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, in order to preclude unnecessary duplication of intelligence activities, ensure complete coverage of intelligence concerns as well as promote the judicious use of government resources;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Administrative Order (AO) No. 68 (s. 2003), the National Intelligence Committee (NIC) was organized to serve as advisory body to the Director General, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (DG, NICA), for the coordination, integration, and fusion of all intelligence activities relating to the preparation of the National Intelligence Estimate and in addressing issues of national intelligence concerns;

WHEREAS, as the focal point for the direction, integration and coordination of all government activities involving national intelligence as well as the preparation of national intelligence estimates on local and foreign situations, it is imperative for the NICA to ensure the vigorous involvement of various government departments and agencies in the task of providing departmental intelligence to facilitate the production of national intelligence, and enable the DG, NICA to more effectively carry out his role as the principal adviser of the President on intelligence;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Section 2 of AO No. 68 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SECTION 2. National Intelligence Committee. — The NIC is hereby reorganized and revitalized to serve as a vital mechanism for intelligence management, and as an instrument for promoting greater unity and cohesion of the Intelligence Community. The NIC, which shall continue to be chaired by the DG, NICA, shall be composed of the following agencies:

a. Department of Foreign Affairs;

b. National Bureau of Investigation; ATICcS

c. Bureau of Immigration;

d. Bureau of Customs;

e. Armed Forces of the Philippines;

f. Philippine National Police;

g. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency;

h. Philippine Coast Guard; and

i. Office for Transportation Security.

Each member-agency shall designate its highest ranking intelligence official or its equivalent as permanent representative to the NIC.

The NIC, through the DG, NSC, is authorized to call upon any department, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the government to become its member and/or to provide assistance in the acquisition and production of information/intelligence on a regular basis, specifically those necessary in the performance of its function/s. The heads or chiefs of said government entities shall give preferential attention to such requests.

The NIC may designate or invite resource persons from relevant units of the government which are not necessarily involved in intelligence work, but could otherwise provide relevant data to fill in information gaps, support intelligence buildup and boost efforts of meeting or satisfying particular intelligence requirements.

The NIC may review its existing standing committees, technical working groups and secretariat to determine retention, dissolution, replacement or creation of other related committees and groups to make the NIC more organized, proactive and effective in fulfilling its mandate.

The NIC shall continue to be assisted by the Regional Intelligence Committees (RIC) that have already been institutionalized in all regions of the country to promote and enhance intelligence fusion. The RICs shall be composed of heads/representatives of intelligence units at the regional level."

SECTION 2. All orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 3. This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seventeen.

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 113, No. 40, p. 7285 on October 2, 2017.