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{{Infobox government agency
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
|agency_name = National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
|nativename = Pambansang Ahensiya sa Ugnayang Intelihensiya<ref>{{cite book |title=Mga Pangalan ng Tanggapan ng Pamahalaan sa Filipino |publisher=[[Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino]] |isbn=978-971-0197-22-4 |page=6 |edition=2013 |url=http://kwf.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Mga-ng-Pangalan-Tanggapan-sa-Filipino2.pdf}}</ref>
|nativename = ''Pambansang Ahensiya sa Ugnayang Intelihensiya''<ref>{{cite book |title=Mga Pangalan ng Tanggapan ng Pamahalaan sa Filipino |publisher=[[Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino]] |isbn=978-971-0197-22-4 |page=6 |edition=2013 |url=http://kwf.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Mga-ng-Pangalan-Tanggapan-sa-Filipino2.pdf}}</ref>
|logo =
|logo =
|logo_width =
|logo_width =
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|seal_caption = Official Seal
|seal_caption = Official Seal
|formed = {{Start date and age|1949|07|10}}
|formed = {{Start date and age|1949|07|10}}
|preceding1 = National Intelligence and Security Authority
|preceding1 = National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA)
|preceding2 =
|preceding2 = Civil Intelligence and Security Agency (CISA)
|dissolved =
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|superseding =
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|headquarters = [[Quezon City]], [[Philippines]]
|headquarters = [[Quezon City]], [[Philippines]]
|employees =
|employees =
|budget = [[Philippine peso|₱]]1.46 billion (2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=Summary of Fiscal Year 2022 New Appropriations |url=https://dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/GAA/GAA2022/VolumeI/SNA.pdf |publisher=[[Official Gazette (Philippines)|Official Gazette]] |access-date=2 October 2022 |date=3 January 2022}}</ref>
|budget =
|minister1_name =
|minister1_name =
|minister1_pfo =
|minister1_pfo =
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|minister2_pfo =
|minister2_pfo =
|chief1_name = Ret. Police Lt. Gen. Ricardo F. De Leon, Ph.D.
|chief1_name = Ret. Police Lt. Gen. Ricardo F. De Leon, Ph.D.
|chief1_position = [[Director-General]]
|chief1_position = Director-General
|chief2_name =
|chief2_name =
|chief2_position =
|chief2_position =
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|website = https://www.nica.gov.ph
|website = https://www.nica.gov.ph
|footnotes =
|footnotes =
|motto = Kaalaman ay Kaligtasan <br /> (Intelligence is Security)
|motto = ''Kaalaman ay Kaligtasan'' <br /> (Intelligence is Security)
}}
}}
The '''National Intelligence Coordinating Agency''' ('''NICA''') <!--({{lang-fil|Pambansang Sangay para sa Pagsasamang Kaalaman|}}) (''PSPK'')--> is the primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm of the [[Philippine government]], in charge of carrying out overt, [[covert]], and [[clandestine operation|clandestine]] intelligence programs. <!--Its motto is: ''Kaalaman ay Kaligtasan'' (translated: "Intelligence is Security").<ref>[http://www.nica.gov.ph/logo.html NICA LOGO.] Retrieved on May 5, 2015</ref>--> The NICA cooperates with friendly countries and government agencies in and out of the country by posting agents as liaison officers.<ref name="FMA">{{Cite web | url=https://www.fma.ph/?p=1093 |title = State of Surveillance in the Philippines|date = March 6, 2016}}</ref>
The '''National Intelligence Coordinating Agency''' ('''NICA''') <!--({{lang-fil|Pambansang Sangay para sa Pagsasamang Kaalaman|}}) (''PSPK'')--> is the primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm of the [[Government of the Philippines|Philippine government]], in charge of carrying out overt, [[Secrecy#Government|covert]], and [[Clandestine operation|clandestine]] intelligence programs. <!--Its motto is: ''Kaalaman ay Kaligtasan'' (translated: "Intelligence is Security").<ref>[http://www.nica.gov.ph/logo.html NICA LOGO.] Retrieved on May 5, 2015</ref>--> The NICA cooperates with friendly countries and government agencies in and out of the country by posting agents as liaison officers.<ref name="FMA">{{Cite web | url=https://www.fma.ph/?p=1093 |title = State of Surveillance in the Philippines|date = March 6, 2016}}</ref>


The agency is led by a [[director-general]] and is assisted by a deputy director general. The former reports directly to the president.<ref name="Order">[http://www.lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo1987/eo_246_1987.html PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING AGENCY.] Retrieved on July 24, 2007</ref> Its headquarters is located in Quezon City.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.gov.ph/directory-of-department-and-agencies |title = Directory of Department and Agencies – GOV.PH}}</ref>
The NICA is led by a Director-General, who reports directly to the [[President of the Philippines]], and is assisted by a Deputy Director-General.<ref name="Order">[http://www.lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo1987/eo_246_1987.html PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING AGENCY.] Retrieved on July 24, 2007</ref> Its headquarters is located in [[Quezon City]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.gov.ph/directory-of-department-and-agencies |title = Directory of Department and Agencies – GOV.PH}}</ref>


The NICA has a National Intelligence Board that serves as an advisory board to the director-general before he would submit his findings to the president relating to [[National Security Council (Philippines)|national security]] matters affecting the [[Philippines]].<ref name="Order"/><ref name="History">{{cite web |url=http://www.nica.gov.ph/index.php?nav=prof |title=History of NICA |access-date=June 2, 2003 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030602123619/http://www.nica.gov.ph/index.php?nav=prof |archive-date=June 2, 2003 }}. Retrieved on December 27, 2007.</ref>
The National Intelligence Committee, chaired by the Director-General, serves as the advisory body of NICA.<ref name="Order"/><ref name="History">{{cite web |url=http://www.nica.gov.ph/index.php?nav=prof |title=History of NICA |access-date=June 2, 2003 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030602123619/http://www.nica.gov.ph/index.php?nav=prof |archive-date=June 2, 2003 }}. Retrieved on December 27, 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Administrative Order No. 7 |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2017/09sep/20170922-AO-7-RRD.pdf |publisher=[[Official Gazette (Philippines)|Official Gazette]] |access-date=2 October 2022}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
[[File:NICA V. Luna.jpg|thumbnail|Main office of NICA along V. Luna Avenue in Quezon City]]
[[File:NICA V. Luna.jpg|thumbnail|Main office of NICA along V. Luna Avenue in Quezon City]]
Founded in 1949, it was created by President [[Elpidio Quirino]] under the authority of Executive Order 235 with further powers relating to intelligence work added by a Government Survey and Reorganization Commission in 1954.<ref name="History"/> The agency was reorganized in 1958 under Executive Order 291 by President Carlos Garcia.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1958/03/14/executive-order-no-291-s-1958/ | title=Executive Order No. 291, s. 1958 &#124; GOVPH}}</ref>
Founded in 1949, the NICA was created by President [[Elpidio Quirino]] under the authority of [[Ordinance Power of the President of the Philippines#Executive orders|Executive Order]] No. 235. In 1954, the Government Survey and Reorganization Commission ordered the expansion of the powers of NICA.<ref name="History"/> The agency was reorganized in 1958 under Executive Order No. 291 by President [[Carlos P. Garcia]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1958/03/14/executive-order-no-291-s-1958/ | title=Executive Order No. 291, s. 1958 &#124; GOVPH}}</ref>


It was abolished on September 16, 1972, by President [[Ferdinand Marcos]] under Presidential Decree 51 and replaced by the National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA)<ref name="History"/> headed by General [[Fabian Ver]] and the Civil Intelligence and Security Agency, assigned to counterintelligence and supervision of all civil security units in Philippine government offices.<ref name="History"/> The agency was primarily used to track down and eliminate anti-Marcos opponents before President Marcos was forced into exile. During his reign, it was one of the main government organizations accused of human rights abuses.<ref name="origin">{{cite web|url=http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rwinslow/asia_pacific/philippines.html|title=Comparative Criminology – Asia – Philippines|work=SDSU.edu|access-date=January 26, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518034026/http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rwinslow/asia_pacific/philippines.html|archive-date=May 18, 2013}}</ref> After the first EDSA Revolution, it was renamed the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in 1987, replacing the NISA, and was merged with the Civil Intelligence and Security Agency<ref name="Order"/> when the Philippine Constitution was revamped, where it refocused its priorities in tackling the communist movement. Their work has resulted in their weakening in the late 1990s.<ref name="origin"/>
The NICA was abolished on September 16, 1972, by President [[Ferdinand Marcos]] under Presidential Decree No. 51, and was replaced by the National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA), which was designated as the principal intelligence agency, and the Civil Intelligence and Security Agency (CISA), which was tasked with counterintelligence and supervision of all civil security units in Philippine government offices.<ref name="History"/> The NISA was then headed by Gen. [[Fabian Ver]] and was alleged to be responsible for various [[Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship|human rights abuses]], primarily during the [[Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos|martial law period]]. The regime of President Marcos, through Gen. Ver, was believed to have used NISA to spy on, abduct and eliminate persons opposing the [[autocracy]] of President Marcos in the 1970s and the 1980s.<ref name="origin">{{cite web|url=http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rwinslow/asia_pacific/philippines.html|title=Comparative Criminology – Asia – Philippines|work=SDSU.edu|access-date=January 26, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518034026/http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rwinslow/asia_pacific/philippines.html|archive-date=May 18, 2013}}</ref>


In 1987, shortly after the [[People Power Revolution]] which had led to a peaceful removal of President Marcos from office, his successor President [[Corazon Aquino]] issued Executive Order No. 246 which abolished NISA and CISA and reestablished NICA.<ref name="Order"/> The NICA then refocused its priorities in tackling the [[Communist armed conflicts in the Philippines|communist insurgency in the Philippines]].<ref name="origin"/>
⚫
In 1990, the Philippines' national security advisor was given responsibility to oversee management and control of the agency to be responsive to the needs of the president and the [[National Security Council (Philippines)|National Security Council]].<ref name="origin"/><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2019/08/02/1939854/evolving-security-threats |title = Evolving security threats| website=[[The Philippine STAR]] }}</ref>


⚫
In 1990, the National Security Advisor was given responsibility to oversee management and control of NICA to be responsive to the needs of the President and the [[National Security Council (Philippines)|National Security Council]].<ref name="origin"/><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2019/08/02/1939854/evolving-security-threats |title = Evolving security threats| website=[[The Philippine STAR]] }}</ref>
⚫
[[Executive order (United States)|Executive Order]] Number 492, issued on February 1, 2006, orders the NICA to activate the National Maritime Aerial Reconnaissance and Surveillance Center or NMARSC, which shall serve as the primary [[IMINT]] provider for the Philippine [[List of intelligence agencies|intelligence community]].<ref name="FMA"/> Under the supervision and oversight of the National Security Adviser, the NICA-directed NMARSC will operate [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s or UAVs to cater to the imagery intelligence demands of various government agencies.


NICA agents were responsible for the arrest of several [[Abu Sayyaf]] members, including Al Qaeda-linked bomber [[Abdulmukim Edris]].<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329012900/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/11/14/phil.bomb.suspect/|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/11/14/phil.bomb.suspect/|title=CNN – Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|date=November 14, 2002|work=CNN.com|access-date=January 26, 2017|archive-date=March 29, 2008}}</ref>
NICA agents were responsible for the arrest of several [[Abu Sayyaf]] members, including [[Al Qaeda]]-linked bomber Abdulmukim Edris.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329012900/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/11/14/phil.bomb.suspect/|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/11/14/phil.bomb.suspect/|title=CNN – Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|date=November 14, 2002|work=CNN.com|access-date=January 26, 2017|archive-date=March 29, 2008}}</ref>


⚫
In 2005, the agency established two directorates to conduct [[Financial intelligence|economic intelligence]] and [[counterintelligence]] activities.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.congress.gov.ph/committees/commnews/commnews_det.php?newsid=478 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604055934/http://www.congress.gov.ph/committees/commnews/commnews_det.php?newsid=478 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2011-06-04 | title=Committee News – House of Representatives of the Philippines}}</ref>
⚫
The NICA is also active in the Philippines' Anti-Terrorism Council, as mandated by the [[Human Security Act]] signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 6, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://senate.gov.ph/republic_acts/ra%209372.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=senate.gov.ph |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616060635/http://senate.gov.ph/republic_acts/ra%209372.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.nica.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=2 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119171133/http://www.nica.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=2 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2019-11-19 |title = National Intelligence Coordinating Agency}}</ref>


⚫
On February 1, 2006, President [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] issued Executive Order No. 492, which ordered the NICA to activate the National Maritime Aerial Reconnaissance and Surveillance Center (NMARSC). The NMARSC was designated as the primary [[imagery intelligence]] provider for the Philippine [[List of intelligence agencies|intelligence community]] and was tasked to operate [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s under the supervision and oversight of the National Security Adviser.<ref name="FMA"/>
⚫
In 2005, it started activation of two directorates involving economic intelligence and counterintelligence.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.congress.gov.ph/committees/commnews/commnews_det.php?newsid=478 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604055934/http://www.congress.gov.ph/committees/commnews/commnews_det.php?newsid=478 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2011-06-04 | title=Committee News – House of Representatives of the Philippines}}</ref>


⚫
On March 6, 2007, President Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9372, also known as the [[Human Security Act|Human Security Act of 2007]], which designates the NICA as the Secretariat of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://senate.gov.ph/republic_acts/ra%209372.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=senate.gov.ph |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616060635/http://senate.gov.ph/republic_acts/ra%209372.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.nica.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=2 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119171133/http://www.nica.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=2 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2019-11-19 |title = National Intelligence Coordinating Agency}}</ref>
⚫
House Bill No. 7111, or the proposed Foreign Electronic Surveillance Act by House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas would allow NICA agents to covertly conduct electronic surveillance operations against foreign countries, terrorists and private groups without the need of having a warrant or a court order in an emergency situation.<ref name="Farinas">{{Cite web | url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/972842/farinas-seeks-govt-power-to-spy-on-foreign-entities | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626074348/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/972842/farinas-seeks-govt-power-to-spy-on-foreign-entities | url-status=dead | archive-date=2018-06-26 |title = Fariñas seeks gov't power to spy on foreign entities &#124; Inquirer News}}</ref> A warrantless operation outside Philippine soil would need approval from the director general and the secretary of the Department of Justice.<ref name="Farinas"/>

⚫
In 2018, [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|House of Representatives]] Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas filed House Bill No. 7111, also known as the Foreign Electronic Surveillance Act. The bill would have allowed NICA agents to covertly conduct electronic surveillance operations against foreign countries, terrorists and private groups without the need of having a [[Warrant (law)|warrant]] or a [[court order]] in an emergency situation.<ref name="Farinas">{{Cite web | url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/972842/farinas-seeks-govt-power-to-spy-on-foreign-entities | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626074348/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/972842/farinas-seeks-govt-power-to-spy-on-foreign-entities | url-status=dead | archive-date=2018-06-26 |title = Fariñas seeks gov't power to spy on foreign entities &#124; Inquirer News}}</ref> A warrantless operation outside the Philippine territory would also need the approval by the Director-General of the NICA and the Secretary of the [[Department of Justice (Philippines)|Department of Justice]] (DOJ).<ref name="Farinas"/> However, by the close of the [[17th Congress of the Philippines|17th Congress]] in 2019, the bill had still been pending in the House of Representatives [[Philippine House Committee on National Defense and Security|Committee on National Defense and Security]].

On June 3, 2020, President [[Rodrigo Duterte]] signed Republic Act No. 11479, also known as the [[Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020]], which repealed the Human Security Act of 2007. Pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the NICA remains as the Secretariat of the ATC. However, NICA has also now been tasked to provide its recommendation on an application for [[proscription]] seeking to declare any individual or group as a [[Terrorism|terrorist]] before the [[Court of Appeals of the Philippines|Court of Appeals]]. Such application for proscription may only be filed by the DOJ, subject to the authority of the ATC.

==Mandate==
The NICA is mandated to:<ref>{{cite web |title=Mandate - National Intelligence Coordinating Agency |url=http://www.nica.gov.ph/mandate.html |publisher=[[National Intelligence Coordinating Agency]] |access-date=2 October 2022}}</ref>
* conduct and coordinate national intelligence activities;
* fulfill strategic intelligence needs of the Government;
* provide relevant intelligence information, the National Intelligence Estimate, for national security policymaking;
* lead counterintelligence activities;
* serve as the Secretariat of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC); and
* act as the head of [[National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict|NTF-ELCAC]] Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) Cluster.


==Organization==
==Organization==
The NICA is organized with the following:<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1987/07/25/executive-order-no-292-book-ivtitle-viiisubtitle-ichapter-3-national-intelligence-coordinating-agency-2/ | title=Executive Order No. 292 &#91;BOOK IV/Title VIII/Subtitle I/Chapter 3-National Intelligence Coordinating Agency&#93; &#124; GOVPH}}</ref>
The NICA is organized into the following divisions and directorates:<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1987/07/25/executive-order-no-292-book-ivtitle-viiisubtitle-ichapter-3-national-intelligence-coordinating-agency-2/ | title=Executive Order No. 292 &#91;BOOK IV/Title VIII/Subtitle I/Chapter 3-National Intelligence Coordinating Agency&#93; &#124; GOVPH}}</ref>


* Office of the Director-General – Led by Director-General
* Office of the Director-General – led by the Director-General
* Directorate of Operations – Led by Assistant Director-General for Operations
* Directorate of Operations – led by the Assistant Director-General for Operations
* Directorate of Production – Led by the Assistant Director-General for Production
* Directorate of Production – led by the Assistant Director-General for Production
* Directorate of Administration – Led by the Assistant Director-General for Administration
* Directorate of Administration – led by the Assistant Director-General for Administration
* Management and Planning Office
* Management and Planning Office
* Office of the Comptroller
* Office of the Comptroller
* Various field stations in [[Regions of the Philippines|various regions]] – Led by Regional Director<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1021141 |title = NICA briefs government communicators on whole-of-nation approach| website=Philippine Information Agency }}</ref>
* Various field stations in [[Regions of the Philippines|various regions]] – led by its respective Regional Directors<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1021141 |title = NICA briefs government communicators on whole-of-nation approach| website=Philippine Information Agency }}</ref>


==Known directors-general==
==Notable Directors-General==
* Gen. [[Fabian Ver]], accused by various human rights groups of using the NISA, as the agency was previously known, as an anti-Marcos watchdog as well as the "secret police" of the regime supported by the military and the police elements to crush the subversive elements at that time.
* Gen. [[Fabian Ver]] was believed by [[human rights group]]s to have used the NICA's precedessor, the National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA), as the [[secret police]] of the regime of President [[Ferdinand Marcos]], leading to various [[Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship|human rights abuses]] committed against persons opposing the [[Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos|autocracy]] of President Marcos in the 1970s and the 1980s.
* Col. Vicente S. Yumul and Gen. [[Jose T. Almonte]] held office as the Directors-General of NICA under President [[Corazon Aquino]].
* Alfredo Filler, retired as Vice Chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines after serving as director.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/icm/Seminars/Oct29/foreign_participants.htm|title=List of Foreign Participants|work=satp.org|access-date=January 26, 2017}}</ref>
* Alfredo Filler, the former Vice Chief-of-Staff of the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]] (AFP), also served as the Director-General of NICA under President [[Fidel V. Ramos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/icm/Seminars/Oct29/foreign_participants.htm|title=List of Foreign Participants|work=satp.org|access-date=January 26, 2017}}</ref>
* Col. Vicente S. Yumul in 1986 took over as director-general of NICA after Gen Fabian Ver was ousted when Cory Aquino became president.
* Gen. [[Jose T. Almonte]] served as director-general during the administration of [[Fidel V. Ramos]].


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 10:20, 2 October 2022

National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
Pambansang Ahensiya sa Ugnayang Intelihensiya[1]
Official Seal
Agency overview
FormedJuly 10, 1949; 74 years ago (1949-07-10)
Preceding agencies
  • National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA)
  • Civil Intelligence and Security Agency (CISA)
JurisdictionGovernment of the Philippines
HeadquartersQuezon City, Philippines
MottoKaalaman ay Kaligtasan
(Intelligence is Security)
Annual budget₱1.46 billion (2022)[2]
Agency executive
  • Ret. Police Lt. Gen. Ricardo F. De Leon, Ph.D., Director-General
Parent agencyOffice of the President of the Philippines
Websitehttps://www.nica.gov.ph

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) is the primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm of the Philippine government, in charge of carrying out overt, covert, and clandestine intelligence programs. The NICA cooperates with friendly countries and government agencies in and out of the country by posting agents as liaison officers.[3]

The NICA is led by a Director-General, who reports directly to the President of the Philippines, and is assisted by a Deputy Director-General.[4] Its headquarters is located in Quezon City.[5]

The National Intelligence Committee, chaired by the Director-General, serves as the advisory body of NICA.[4][6][7]

History

Main office of NICA along V. Luna Avenue in Quezon City

Founded in 1949, the NICA was created by President Elpidio Quirino under the authority of Executive Order No. 235. In 1954, the Government Survey and Reorganization Commission ordered the expansion of the powers of NICA.[6] The agency was reorganized in 1958 under Executive Order No. 291 by President Carlos P. Garcia.[8]

The NICA was abolished on September 16, 1972, by President Ferdinand Marcos under Presidential Decree No. 51, and was replaced by the National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA), which was designated as the principal intelligence agency, and the Civil Intelligence and Security Agency (CISA), which was tasked with counterintelligence and supervision of all civil security units in Philippine government offices.[6] The NISA was then headed by Gen. Fabian Ver and was alleged to be responsible for various human rights abuses, primarily during the martial law period. The regime of President Marcos, through Gen. Ver, was believed to have used NISA to spy on, abduct and eliminate persons opposing the autocracy of President Marcos in the 1970s and the 1980s.[9]

In 1987, shortly after the People Power Revolution which had led to a peaceful removal of President Marcos from office, his successor President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order No. 246 which abolished NISA and CISA and reestablished NICA.[4] The NICA then refocused its priorities in tackling the communist insurgency in the Philippines.[9]

In 1990, the National Security Advisor was given responsibility to oversee management and control of NICA to be responsive to the needs of the President and the National Security Council.[9][10]

NICA agents were responsible for the arrest of several Abu Sayyaf members, including Al Qaeda-linked bomber Abdulmukim Edris.[11]

In 2005, the agency established two directorates to conduct economic intelligence and counterintelligence activities.[12]

On February 1, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 492, which ordered the NICA to activate the National Maritime Aerial Reconnaissance and Surveillance Center (NMARSC). The NMARSC was designated as the primary imagery intelligence provider for the Philippine intelligence community and was tasked to operate unmanned aerial vehicles under the supervision and oversight of the National Security Adviser.[3]

On March 6, 2007, President Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9372, also known as the Human Security Act of 2007, which designates the NICA as the Secretariat of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).[13][14]

In 2018, House of Representatives Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas filed House Bill No. 7111, also known as the Foreign Electronic Surveillance Act. The bill would have allowed NICA agents to covertly conduct electronic surveillance operations against foreign countries, terrorists and private groups without the need of having a warrant or a court order in an emergency situation.[15] A warrantless operation outside the Philippine territory would also need the approval by the Director-General of the NICA and the Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ).[15] However, by the close of the 17th Congress in 2019, the bill had still been pending in the House of Representatives Committee on National Defense and Security.

On June 3, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11479, also known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which repealed the Human Security Act of 2007. Pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the NICA remains as the Secretariat of the ATC. However, NICA has also now been tasked to provide its recommendation on an application for proscription seeking to declare any individual or group as a terrorist before the Court of Appeals. Such application for proscription may only be filed by the DOJ, subject to the authority of the ATC.

Mandate

The NICA is mandated to:[16]

  • conduct and coordinate national intelligence activities;
  • fulfill strategic intelligence needs of the Government;
  • provide relevant intelligence information, the National Intelligence Estimate, for national security policymaking;
  • lead counterintelligence activities;
  • serve as the Secretariat of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC); and
  • act as the head of NTF-ELCAC Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) Cluster.

Organization

The NICA is organized into the following divisions and directorates:[17]

  • Office of the Director-General – led by the Director-General
  • Directorate of Operations – led by the Assistant Director-General for Operations
  • Directorate of Production – led by the Assistant Director-General for Production
  • Directorate of Administration – led by the Assistant Director-General for Administration
  • Management and Planning Office
  • Office of the Comptroller
  • Various field stations in various regions – led by its respective Regional Directors[18]

Notable Directors-General

References

  1. ^ Mga Pangalan ng Tanggapan ng Pamahalaan sa Filipino (PDF) (2013 ed.). Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. p. 6. ISBN 978-971-0197-22-4.
  2. ^ "Summary of Fiscal Year 2022 New Appropriations" (PDF). Official Gazette. January 3, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "State of Surveillance in the Philippines". March 6, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING AGENCY. Retrieved on July 24, 2007
  5. ^ "Directory of Department and Agencies – GOV.PH".
  6. ^ a b c "History of NICA". Archived from the original on June 2, 2003. Retrieved June 2, 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Retrieved on December 27, 2007.
  7. ^ "Administrative Order No. 7" (PDF). Official Gazette. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "Executive Order No. 291, s. 1958 | GOVPH".
  9. ^ a b c "Comparative Criminology – Asia – Philippines". SDSU.edu. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  10. ^ "Evolving security threats". The Philippine STAR.
  11. ^ "CNN – Breaking News, Latest News and Videos". CNN.com. November 14, 2002. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  12. ^ "Committee News – House of Representatives of the Philippines". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011.
  13. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). senate.gov.ph. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "National Intelligence Coordinating Agency". Archived from the original on November 19, 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Fariñas seeks gov't power to spy on foreign entities | Inquirer News". Archived from the original on June 26, 2018.
  16. ^ "Mandate - National Intelligence Coordinating Agency". National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "Executive Order No. 292 [BOOK IV/Title VIII/Subtitle I/Chapter 3-National Intelligence Coordinating Agency] | GOVPH".
  18. ^ "NICA briefs government communicators on whole-of-nation approach". Philippine Information Agency.
  19. ^ "List of Foreign Participants". satp.org. Retrieved January 26, 2017.

External links

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