Tiglao to head new security agency

Malacañang is considering forming a "national crisis and control center-type organization" that will manage the country’s internal security, among other functions, sources at Malacañang have told The STAR.

Palace officials are still exploring the idea, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao, who will return from a six-month fellowship in Japan, "would be given the task as the civilian overseer of a national crisis and control center-type organization," the sources said.

But he will not only return to his old post but he will assume the post of presidential chief of staff in a concurrent capacity, the sources added.

The crisis control center organization’s main purpose is to implement and oversee policy decisions made by the Cabinet oversight committee on internal security, headed by Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo.

The members of the panel are National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane and Armed Forces chief Gen. Benjamin Defensor.

The panel met shortly before the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks to plan the government’s campaign against terrorism and the Muslim and communist insurgencies.

According to the sources, the proposed crisis command center would be under the Office of the President. "This is similar to the set-up at the White House of national security adviser Condoleeza Rice," the sources said.

It would be equipped with computers and communication equipment linking it with the military and the police as well as various government security agencies. It would also be used for retrieving information concerning national security.