President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed retired general Eduardo Oban Jr., a former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, as the country's new national security adviser, replacing Eduardo Año who resigned due to health concerns after three years in the position.
Malacañang announced the leadership change during a press briefing on Tuesday, April 15, with Undersecretary Claire Castro confirming both Año's departure and Oban's appointment to the critical security post.
"We thank Secretary Año for his dedicated and distinguished service to the Filipino people: 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 Cites Health Reasons for Departure
Eduardo Año officially steps down on April 16, citing "health reasons that require my full attention and care" as the primary factor behind his decision to leave the position he has held since January 2023.
In his resignation statement, Año described his departure as a "permanent retirement" necessitated by medical concerns that have become increasingly apparent in recent months.
"Public service has been the defining mission of my life, and it has been my utmost privilege to have served the Filipino people in times of both challenge and opportunity," Año stated. "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."
The former AFP chief assured that "an orderly transition is underway" and expressed confidence that "critical operations and ongoing initiatives will continue" under new leadership.
Año's health concerns are not new. In 2021, while serving as interior secretary under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, he underwent heart surgery twice and took a month-long medical leave. Sources close to Año revealed that he had offered to resign more than once, including filing an "irrevocable" resignation when Marcos requested courtesy resignations from all Cabinet secretaries last year. However, the President had persuaded him to remain in his position.
Oban's Anti-Corruption Legacy in Military Leadership
The incoming national security adviser, 70-year-old Eduardo Oban Jr., brings extensive military experience and a reputation for institutional reform. As a retired Air Force general, Oban served as armed forces chief of staff in 2011 under the late President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III during a particularly challenging period for the Philippine military.
Oban's appointment came at a time when the corrupt "pabaon" system had just been exposed—a decades-old practice that allowed retiring officers to receive millions in cash as farewell gifts from the military institution. Additionally, a whistle-blower had revealed the existence of a "comptroller mafia" within the armed forces that controlled the military budget and its distribution to benefit a select few.
President Aquino tasked Oban with implementing reforms to eliminate the processes that enabled such corruption to flourish. Upon his retirement as armed forces chief in 2012, Oban made a memorable statement that highlighted his commitment to clean governance.
"Mga kasama, gusto kong ipagmalaki natin na hindi ako nagbago sa posisyon ng chief of staff. Pumasok ako na Oban at lalabas pa rin na Oban, walang baon," he declared, which translates to: "My friends, I am proud to state that in my position as chief of staff, I did not change. I entered as Oban, I leave as Oban, without pocket money."
Diverse Post-Military Career Experience
Following his military service, Oban held various significant positions in government and the private sector. He was appointed head of the state-owned Clark Development Corporation, which manages and develops the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, a former US air base.
Subsequently, Oban served as undersecretary for operations in the transportation department before being named executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in 2014. This body monitors compliance with the Philippines' military access agreements with other countries.
His appointment to the VFA commission came at a crucial time when the Philippines was preparing to sign the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States. This agreement allows Washington to preposition military assets in mutually agreed upon Philippine military bases, and has since been expanded under the Marcos administration to include nine sites from the original five.
More recently, Oban served as director of insurance company Cocolife in 2022 and held positions as chairman of Cocolife Asset Management Inc. and various investment funds.
Political Independence and 2022 Electoral Position
Despite maintaining a relatively low profile since his government service during the Aquino administration, Oban made his political views known during the 2022 presidential elections when he publicly endorsed Leni Robredo, who ultimately became Marcos' chief electoral rival and losing candidate.
This political stance demonstrates Oban's willingness to maintain independent judgment, even when it may conflict with those who would later appoint him to high office.
Año's West Philippine Sea Transparency Initiative
During his tenure as national security adviser, Año played a pivotal role in implementing the government's "transparency initiative" regarding tensions in the West Philippine Sea. This strategy involved publicly documenting and sharing images and videos of harassment faced by Philippine vessels at the hands of Chinese maritime units.
The initiative allowed media organizations to embed with Philippine Coast Guard ships during rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, where the BRP Sierra Madre serves as a makeshift Philippine outpost. For over a year, journalists received unprecedented access to these missions, while government agencies regularly released videos of confrontations for international viewing.
This transparency push proved effective in exposing China's actions in disputed waters and helped strengthen relationships with the Philippines' traditional and emerging defense and security partners. Manila continues to implement a scaled-down version of this strategy in some West Philippine Sea missions, though access to Ayungin Shoal missions ended after a "provisional arrangement" was established between Beijing and Manila following a violent June 12, 2024 incident.
Evolving Security Landscape Awaits New Leadership
Oban assumes his new role during a period of significant transformation in the Philippines' security posture. The country has shifted its military focus from internal to external security concerns, while global superpowers continue to challenge established international norms.
Since 2014, when the Philippines maintained military visiting agreements only with the United States and Australia, the country has substantially expanded its defense partnerships. Under the Marcos administration, similar agreements have been forged with Japan, New Zealand, Canada, and France, with negotiations currently underway for a similar arrangement with the United Kingdom.
All six partner countries are expected to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 2026 exercises, the annual war games between the US and the Philippines that have grown to include multiple international participants.
Castro expressed confidence in Oban's ability to navigate these complex challenges, stating: "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."
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Malacañang