The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) (Filipino: Pambansang Ahensiya na Tagapag-Ugnay sa Pamalayan) is the primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm of the Government of the Philippines in charge of carrying out overt, covert, and clandestine intelligence activities. The NICA directs, coordinates, and integrates all intelligence activities, both foreign and domestic, concerning national security, [2] serving as the leading intelligence collector of the national government, focusing on the country's strategic intelligence requirements. It is mandated to prepare intelligence estimate on local and foreign situation for the formulation of national security policies by the President and the National Security Council.[3]
The agency also serves as the focal point for the government's counterintelligence activities and operation; acts as Secretariat to the Anti-Terrorism Council; and serves as head of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict's Situation Awareness and Knowledge Management Cluster.[3][4]
The NICA is led by a Director-General, who reports directly to the President of the Philippines, and is assisted by two Deputy Director-Generals.[5] Its headquarters is located in Quezon City,[6] with regional offices located all over the country and foreign stations in countries of interest to the Philippine government.[7]
The National Intelligence Committee, chaired by the Director-General, serves as the advisory body of NICA.[5][8][9]
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.[10] In 1954, the Government Survey and Reorganization Commission ordered the expansion of the powers of NICA.[8] The agency was reorganized in 1958 under Executive Order No. 291 by President Carlos P. Garcia.[11]
The NICA was abolished on November 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.[8] 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.[12] In 1978, the NISA was designated as the focal point for all intelligence activities involving national security and supervisor of other intelligence agencies under the Office of the President.[13]
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.[5] The NICA then refocused its priorities in tackling the communist insurgency in the Philippines.[12]
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.[12][14]
NICA agents were responsible for the arrest of several Abu Sayyaf members, including Al Qaeda-linked bomber Abdulmukim Edris.[15]
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.[17]
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).[18][19]
In 2011, Juan Ponce Enrile challenged President Aquino to declassify intelligence files from the former NISA.[20]
In 2018, then-House of Representatives Majority Floor LeaderRodolfo 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.[21] 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).[21] However, since it was not enacted by the end of the 17th Congress, the bill is already considered "dead" 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.
On January 3, 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a revamp to the NICA through Executive Order No. 54, which would create the Office of the Deputy Director General (ODDG) for Cyber and Emerging Threats to handle and address counter-intelligence and counter-measures against cybersecurity threats.[22]
The NICA is organized into the following divisions and directorates:[24]
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[25]
Directors-General
General Fabian Ver was believed by human rights groups to have used the NICA's predecessor, the National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA), as the secret police of the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, leading to various human rights abuses committed against persons opposing the autocracy in the 1970s and the 1980s.
Fabian Crisologo Ver was a Filipino military officer who served as the Commanding Officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos.
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1 2 3 "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.
↑ "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)
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