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Jean Mangaluz - Philstar.com
April 15, 2026 | 2:34pm
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año
Geremy Pintolo / File
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepted the resignation of National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, with former military chief-of-staff Eduardo Oban Jr. to replace him.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that Año has “decided to retire from public service after decades of continuous service in government and the military.”
“As National Security Adviser, he played a key role in strengthening our national security framework, advancing our counterterrorism and internal security efforts, and ensuring close coordination across the security sector during a period of evolving regional and global challenges,” Castro said.
Año was appointed by Marcos in 2023, becoming one of the few Duterte-appointed secretaries with a prolonged stay in Marcos’ cabinet.
During the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Año was the Interior Secretary from 2018 to 2022. Prior to this, he was also Duterte’s chief-of-staff.
Año will be succeeded by Oban, who notably served as the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ chief-of-staff during the term of the late president Noynoy Aquino.
Oban also served as the head of the Visiting Forces Agreement Commission.
“With his depth of experience, the President is confident that Secretary Oban will provide steady and capable leadership in advancing the country's national security priorities and ensuring continuity in the government's efforts to keep the nation safe and secure,” Castro said.
Año confirmed his retirement in a separate statement.
“In recent months it has become apparent that I must prioritize my health and well?being. To ensure continuity, stability, and the highest standards of service in safeguarding our national security, I believe it is time to step aside and allow others to lead,” Año said.
“An orderly transition is underway, and I am confident that critical operations and ongoing initiatives will continue,” he added.
Año thanked the president, as well as his colleagues in the security sector. He expressed his confidence in Oban, saying that the new Adviser will continue to uphold the highest security standards.
