MODULE 8: NATIONAL

SECURITY CONCERNS
LESSON 1: NATIONAL SECURITY
A. FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS
B. NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST
 OBJECTIVE
1. EXTERNAL THREATS SITUATION (FOREIGN, GLOBAL TERRORISM AND TRANSNATIONAL
CRIMES)
2. INTERNAL THREATS SITUATION (INSURGENCY PROBLEM AND OTHER LOCAL THREATS,
HISTORY, STRATEGY, RECRUITMENT, METHODS AND PROPAGANDA, CONCEPTS OF
THREATS AS APPLIED IN THE PHILIPPINE SETTING, THEIR CAPABILITIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES)

• OVERVIEW OF NATIONAL SECURITY SITUATION

A. PEACE EDUCATION
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE PEACE (CULTIVATING INNER PEACE, DISMANTLING THE
CULTURE WAR, LIVING WITH JUSTICE AND COMPASSION, LIVING WITH HARMONY WITH
EARTH, PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS RESPONSIBILITIES AND BUILDING INTERCULTURAL
RESPECT, RECONCILIATION AND SOLIDARITY)
 NATIONAL SECURITY

— IS A STATE
OR CONDITION WHERE OUR MOST CHERISHED
VALUES AND BELIEFS OUR DEMOCRATIC WAY OF LIFE, OUR
INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE AND OUR UNITY.
—WELFARE AND WELL- BEING AS A NATION AND PEOPLE
ARE PERMANENTLY PROTECTED AND CONTINUOUSLY
ENHANCED.
 7 FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS

1. SOCIO- POLITICAL STABILITY— WE MUST ACHIEVE PEACE AND HARMONY

AMONG ALL FILIPINOS, REGARDLESS OF CREED, ETHIC, ORIGIN, OR SOCIAL
STATION. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE MUST ENGAGE IN NATIONAL
BUILDING UNDER THE RULE OF LAW, CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY AND THE
FULL RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
2. TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY— WE MUST ENSURE THE PERMANENT INVIOLABILITY
OF OUR NATIONAL TERRITORY AND ITS EFFECTIVE CONTROL BY THE
GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE.
3. ECONOMIC SOLIDARITY AND STRENGTH— WE MUST VIGOROUSLY PURSUE A
FREE- MARKET ECONOMY THROUGH RESPONSIBLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BASED
ON SOCIAL CONSCIENCE, RESPECT FOR DIGNITY OF LABOR AND CONCERN FOR
THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
CONTINUATION.....

4. ECOLOGICAL BALANCE— NATIONAL SURVIVAL RESTS UPON THE EFFECTIVE

CONSERVATION OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL IN THE FACE OF INDUSTRIAL AND
AGRICULTURAL EXPANSION AND POPULATION GROWTH.
5. CULTURAL COHESIVENESS— OUR LIVES AS A PEOPLE MUST BE RULED BY A COMMON
SET OF VALUES AND BELIEVE GROUNDED ON HIGH MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARD,
DRAWN FROM OUR HERITAGE AND EMBODYING A FILIPINO STANDARD IDENTITY
TRANSCENDING RELIGIOUS, ETHNIC AND LINGUISTIC DIFFERENCES.
6. MORAL— SPIRITUAL CONSENSUS- WE MUST BE PROPELLED BY A NATIONAL VISION
INSPIRED AND MANIFESTED IN OUR WORDS AND DEEDS, BY PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL
PRIDE AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE NATIONAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVE.
7. EXTERNAL PEACE— WE MUST PURSUE CONSTRUCTIVE AND CORDIAL RELATIONS
WITH ALL NATIONS AND PEOPLES, EVEN AS OUR NATIONS ITSELF MUST CHART AN
INDEPENDENT COURSE. FREE FROM EXTERNAL CONTROL, INTERFERENCE OR THREAT
OR AGGRESSION.
LESSON 2: NATIONAL THREATS
 INTERNAL THREAT
— OUR NATIONAL SECURITY ENVIRONMENT IS INFUSED WITH FOUR
THREATS TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY MAKE UP THE FIRST DIMENSION

1. MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT (MILF) – THE MILF IN CONSTRUCTIVE PEACE

NEGOTIATION, THE ARMED ACTIVITIES OF THE GROUP CONTINUE TO BE A SOURCE OF
SERIOUS CONCERN PARTICULARLY THE BUILDING UP ITS DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE
CAPABILITIES. HAND IN HAND WITH THIS SECURITY PROBLEM IS THE THREAT FROM THE
ABU SAYYAF GROUP (ASG) , A SMALL BOND OF HIGHLY MOBILE TERRORIST WITH
SUSPECTED LINKS TO INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS.
2. THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES/ NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY/ NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC FRONT (CPP/NPA/NDF)- CONTINUES TONS POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO
NATIONAL SECURITY ALTHOUGH PRESENTLY WEAKENED IN COMPARISON WITH THEIR
PEAK STRENGTH IN THE PERIOD 1985-87.
3. ORGANIZED CRIME- A NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERN. THE CHALLENGE OF ILLEGAL
DRUGS IN PARTICULAR, HAS GROWN INTO THE MAJOR THREAT TO THE NATIONAL
4. GRAVE INCIDENCE OF POVERTY- ALSO A SERIOUS THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
ESPECIALLY TO THE EXTENT THAT IT BREEDS REBELLION, CRIME AND DISSIDENCE. IT AFFECTS
1/3 OF FILIPINO NATIONWIDE
5. ECONOMIC SABOTAGE- UNDERMINES THE MARKET ECONOMY, THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND
THE NATION’S RESOURCES. UNDER THESE CATEGORIES ARE UNDERGROUND ACTIVITIES SUCH
AS COUNTERFEITING, MONEY LAUNDERING, LARGE SCALE SMUGGLING, ENTER OCEANIC
POACHING AND COMMERCIAL DUMPING.
6. GRAFT AND CORRUPTION- HAS BECOME ANOTHER THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY FOR
VIRTUE OF THE HUGE SCALE BY WHICH IT SAPS PUBLIC RESOURCES, UNDERMINES THE MORAL
OF CIVIL SERVICE AND AFFECTS THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY BASIC SERVICES
7. SEVERE CALAMITIES- CAUSE SERIOUS FOOD SHORTAGE, ABET HOARDING AND PROFITEERING
TOOLS STANDS AT MORE THAN 13,000 LIVES LOST AND PHP 179 BILLION PROPERTY DESTROYED
8. PERSISTENT ENVIRONMENT DEGRADATION- POSES A LONG-TERM SECURITY THREAT. THE
ALTERATION OF FOREST AND WATER SHADES, AIR-LAND-WATER POLLUTION AND
 EXTERNAL THREATS
1. THE MULTI-LATERAL DISPUTE OVER THE SPRITELY ISLAND IS THE SOURCE OF
INTERMITTENT TENSIONS OWNING TO THE BUILD-UP STRUCTURES, BELIEVED TO BE
MILITARY- ORIENTED BY SOME CLAIMANT COUNTRIES IN THE AREA.
2. THE SMUGGLING FIRE ARMS AND CONTRABAND ILLEGAL MIGRATION AND
OCCUPATIONAL MOVEMENT OF FOREIGN TERRITORIES THROUGH THE POROUS BORDERS
OF OUR SOUTHWESTERN FRONTIER HAVE ELECTED TRANSNATIONAL CONCERN,
PHILIPPINE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WORK CLOSELY WITH INTERNATIONAL POLICY
ORGANIZATIONS, BILATERALLY TO CHECK THIS ACTIVITY.
3. THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF THE CURRENCY CRISIS AFFECTING THE COUNTRIES WITH IN
THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATION (ASEAN) ARE CAUSE OF REGIONAL
ANXIETIES WHICH TEND TO AGGRAVATE THE POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND SOCIO-
ECONOMIC DISLOCATIONS INVOLVING THE POOREST PEOPLE.
4. THE SERIOUS ECONOMIC DISPARITY BETWEEN RICH AND POOR NATIONS KEEPS THE
WORLD IN A STATE OF INSTABILITY AND VIRTUALLY ON THE BRINK OF WAR IN MANY
PLACES.
5. ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL CONFLICT PERVADES MANY REGIONS AND NATIONS
 OUR NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY FOR CHANGE AND FILIPINO
WELL- BEING (2017-2022)

“MY DREAM IS THAT ALL FILIPINOS WILL SAY THEY ARE FILIPINOS,
NO LONGER FROM LEFT OR RIGHT, MORO REBELS OR TERRORIST,
AND LIVE IN PEACE.” PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE (BUSINESS
FORUM, DAVAO CITY, JUNE 21, 2016)
 CHAPTER 1 NSP PURPOSE

• PROVIDES A ROADMAP FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF THE COUNTRY’S SECURITY

VISION AND MISSION.
• OUTLINES NATIONAL SECURITY PRIORITIES BASED ON REALISTIC
ANALYSES OF RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES
• OFFERS A STRATEGIC DIRECTION ON HOW TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE OUR
NATIONAL INTEREST, AND
• INTRODUCES ACTIONS AND MEASURES FOR ITS EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT
AND IMPLEMENTATION.
 LESSON 3

A. NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST

B. PUBLIC SAFETY AND ORDER
C. TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
D. ECONOMIC SOLIDARITY
E. CULTURAL COHESIVENESS
F. ECOLOGICAL BALANCE
G. EXTERNAL PEACE AND HARMONY
• MORAL- SPIRITUAL CONSENSUS
B. NATIONAL SECURITY VISION
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC TO THE
PHILIPPINES ENVISION BY 2022, A UNITED AND SECURE
NATION WHEREIN THE PEOPLE’S CORE VALUES,
WELFARE AND WELL-BEING, WAY OF LIFE; TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY AND SOVEREIGNTY ARE PROTECTED AND
ENHANCED.
 C. NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGE
OTHER STRATEGIC
INTERNAL EXTERNAL THREATS ISSUES AND
ENVIRONMENT: CHALLENGES
1.LAW AND ORDER AND CRIMINALITY
1. OVERLAPPING TERRITORIAL AND MARITIME
CLAIMS AND OTHER REGIONAL CONCERNS 1. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND THREATS OF
A. ILLEGAL DRUGS CYBER ATTACKS
A. THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA AND ELSEWHERE
B. CRIMINALITY 2. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND DEPENDENCY
B. ENCROACHMENTS INTO PHL EEZ
C. CRIMES AGAINST PERSON 3. PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

C. POSSIBLE KOREAN PENINSULA CONFLICT. • CYBER SECURITY THREATS

2.INTERNAL ARMED CONFLICTS
2.GLOBAL & REGIONAL GEOPOLITICAL ISSUE 2. CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS NATIONAL SECURITY
A. COMMUNIST INSURGENCY RISK
A. UNITED STATES
B. SECESSIONIST MOVEMENT CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING
B. JAPAN
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
3. TERRORISM & TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES
C. ASEAN • DISASTERS AND CRIMES
A. ASG
D. CHINA 3. INSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS
B. TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES
E. OTHERS (SOUTH KOREA, AUSTRALIA, RUSSIA DETERIORATION OF VALUES IN THE SECURITY SECTOR,
4. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL THREATS AND INDIA.) POLITICAL SYSTEM, AND BUREAUCRACY

WELFARE AND SAFETY OF OFWS

A. POVERTY 3. GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY AND WMD
• PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES, FOOD, WATER,
B. GRAFT AND CORRUPTION A. ARMS RACE HOUSING, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND NUTRITION
B. NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION AND ENERGY.
 D. NATIONAL SECURITY GOALS AND
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ORDER

SAFEGUARD TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND SOVEREIGNTY

BOLSTER ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND SOLIDARITY

PROTECT AND PRESERVE ECOLOGICAL BALANCE

PROMOTE CULTURAL COHESIVENESS

PROMOTE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL CONSENSUS

1. CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL PEACE AND HARMONY
 LESSON 4: PEACE EDUCATION

THE CONCEPT OF PEACE VARIES ACCORDING TO THE

PEOPLE WHO GIVE MEANING TO IT, BASED ON THE WORK
THEY DO AND THE CULTURAL CONTEXT THEY COME FROM.
SOME OF THESE CONCEPTS ARE:
1. “PEACE IS NOT JUST THE ABSENCE OF WAR. IT IS THE
WHOLENESS OF LIFE WHERE WVERY PERSON CAN LIVE
WITH DIGNITY” (MINDANAO CHURCH CONGRESS, 1996)
2. “THE NEW NAME OF PEACE IS DEVELOPMENT.” (POPE
PAUL VI, POPULORUM PROGRESSIO)
PEACE IS NOT JUST THE ABSENCE OF WAR OR VIOLENCE. IT IS MORE THAN
JUST THE ABSENCE OF WAR BECAUSE NOT ALWAYS MEAN PEACE. PEACE,
AS POSITIVELY DEFINED, MEANS THE PRESENCE OF HARMONY,
UNDERSTANDING, TRANQUILITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, RESPECT, AND
TOLERANCE –MEANING ENHANCEMENT OF LIFE. IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS
THE GENERAL WELL-BEING OF THE INDIVIDUAL. PEACE SHOULD BE
VIEWED A DIFFERENT LEVEL:
1. PERSONAL LEVEL- REFERS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNER HARMONY
OR INNER INTEGRATION CHARACTERIZED BY SUCH QUALITIES AS
SELF-RESPECT, SELF-CONFIDENCE, ABILITY TO COPE WITH NEGATIVE
FEELINGS (FEAR, ANGER, INSECURITY, AND SHAME), AND DEVELOPING
POSITIVE ATTITUDES SUCH AS CHEERFULNESS AND OPTIMISM.
CONTINUATION....

2. INTERPERSONAL LEVEL- IS MANIFESTED BY THE RELATIONSHIP OF AN

INDIVIDUAL WITH ONE ANOTHER. THE INTERPERSONAL LEVEL PEACE CAN BE
SHOWN IN TERMS OF:
A. ASSERTIVENESS-THE CAPACITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO EXPRESS ONE’S VIEWS OR
EXERCISE ONE’S RIGHT WITHOUT BEING AGGRESSIVE (INJURING OR VIOLATING THE
RIGHTS OF OTHERS) OR SUBMISSIVE (DENYING ONE’S OWN VIEWS OR RIGHTS)
B. RESPECT-TO RECOGNIZE THE WORTH OF OTHERS REGARDLESS OF DIFFERENCE IN
SOCIAL POSITION, CULTURE, ORIGIN, ETHNIC GROUPING OR GENDER.
C. CONCERN FOR OTHERS- AN AWARENESS AND AWARENESS OF THEIR NEEDS,
FEELINGS AND CONDITION AND EXTENDING APPROPRIATE CONSIDERATION FOR
SUCH.
D. COOPERATION- THE CAPACITY AND WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH OTHERS TO
ACHIEVE A COMMON GOAL.
CONTINUATION.....

F. HUMILITY- THE VIRTUE TO ACCEPT AND RECOGNIZE THAT OTHERS MAY

HAVE THE ABILITY SIMILAR OR MAYBE MORE THAN YOU HAVE AND THAT
RECOGNITION ENABLES YOU TO ACCEPT YOUR OWN LIMITATIONS.

3. SOCIAL/ NATIONAL LEVEL- IS CONCERNED WITH ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT

AFFECT SOCIETY AND ITS SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC COMPONENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF SOCIAL.

4. INJUSTICE SUCH AS LAND GRABBING, FOREST DEGRADATION, WATER

POLLUTION, AND OTHERS THAT HAVE A SOCIAL IMPACT.

A. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY- AN AWARENESS OF ONE’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR

THE COMMON WELFARE AND THE WILLINGNESS AS WELL AS THE READINESS
TO WORK FOR IT.

B. INTERDEPENDENCE-AN AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF THE DECISIONS AND

 CONTINUATION....

C. SOCIAL JUSTICE- REQUIRES AN AWARENESS AND RECOGNITION OF THE

CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY
OF THE MORE MARGINALIZED SECTORS OF SOCIETY AND THE WILLINGNESS
TO PROMOTE AND DEFEND THEM.

5. GLOBAL LEVEL- IS SIMILAR TO THE SOCIAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL PEACE,

GLOBAL LEVEL PEACE IS CONCERNED WITH ATTAINING RELATED ISSUES
THAT HAVE GLOBAL IMPACT OR SCALE SUCH ISSUES INCLUDE AMONG
OTHERS THE ISSUE OF UNFAIR TRADE RELATIONS, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION,
TERRORISM, MILITARIZATION, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION,
XENOPHOBIA AND OTHERS.
A. RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT- THE VALUE OF RECOGNIZING THE
IMPORTANCE OF THAT RESOURCES IN THE ENVIRONMENT AS INDICATED BY
THE ACT OF PRESERVING AND CONSERVING THEM. ALSO, THE EFFORTS
 CONTINUATION....

B. UNITY IN THE ONENESS OF HUMAN KIND- THE VALUE OF

RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ONE WITH OTHER HUMANS
AS THE SEMBLANCE OF GOD’S POWER AND LOVE. IT IS A RECOGNITION
THAT EVERYONE IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE OTHER.
C. RELIGIOUS APPRECIATION- THE ABILITY TO RESPECT AND APPRECIATE
THE PRESENCE OD PEOPLE WITH RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OTHER THAN HIS
OWN. THIS RECOGNITION BRINGS US INTO REALIZATION THAT WE HAVE
DIFFERENT WAYS OF EXPRESSING OUR FAITH BUT WE HAVE COMMON
ASPIRATION TO BE PLEASING TO THE CREATOR.
D. CULTURAL APPRECIATION- A RECOGNITION OF THE PRESENCE OF
DIFFERENT CULTURES AND SUCH DIFFERENCES GIVES US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.
 UNDERSTANDING CULTURE OF PEACE

A CULTURE OF PEACE IS ACHIEVED WHEN CITIZENS OF THE WORLD UNDERSTAND

GLOBAL PROBLEMS, HAVE THE SKILLS TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS AND STRUGGLE
FOR JUSTICE NON-VIOLENTLY, LIVE BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF HUMAN
RIGHTS AND EQUITY, APPRECIATE CULTURAL DIVERSITY, AND RESPECT THE EARTH
AND EACH OTHER. SUCH LEARNING CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED WITH SYSTEMATIC
EDUCATION FOR PEACE. THE CULTURE OF PEACE MUST BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE
MESSAGE IT BRINGS. LET US FIRST DISCUSS THE MEANING OF CULTURE. CULTURE
IS ESTABLISHED IN A HUMAN SOCIETY COMPOSED OF THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT
CONSISTS OF LANGUAGE, GESTURES, SYMBOLS, RITUALS, AND STYLES.
DEVELOPING THE CULTURE OF PEACE WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF
CREATIVE LIFESTYLES AND PRACTICAL WAYS OF DEALING WITH CONFLICT THAT
MAKE VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION OBSOLETE. TO PROMOTE A CULTURE OF PEACE,
IT MUST BE SYSTEMATICALLY INTEGRATED INTO FORMAL EDUCATION.