President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured the Filipino people on Tuesday of the government’s intensified intelligence services amid threats to the Philippine government and the national security.

“Well, pinatibay talaga natin ang ating intelligence service. It’s much better than it was before because marami nang ibang bagong kailangan na bantayan,” President Marcos said in a media interview.

The President made the remarks on the sidelines of the 16th Ani ng Dangal in Manila City when asked by reporters on the effectiveness of the country’s intelligence community, which has been doing a good job.

He stressed that the country’s intelligence services should not be compromised.

“Maayos naman ang trabaho nila but then, I think more than anything, they are really directed towards external threats rather than internal because those are more serious as far as we’re concerned,” President Marcos said.

The President was then praised for his strong leadership about the said issue.

“Well, we get things done,” he said.

“We get more things done than most other people. So, I think that’s the most important thing… Ang importante naman diyan, we’re here to serve. As long as were able to do that then we’re effective. And that’s what’s important,” he added.

President Marcos re-organized the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) last month to strengthen the “agency’s intelligence gathering and analysis to ensure national security and promote national interest” through Executive Order No. 54.

NICA’s re-organization involves the establishment of the Office of the Deputy Director General (ODDG) for Cyber and Emerging Threats tasked to direct and provide overall planning on “counter-intelligence and counter-measures against cybersecurity threats, weapons of mass destruction, and other emerging threats.” |PND