President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has allowed Secretary Eduardo M. Año to remain and continue as the head of the National Security Council (NSC), despite the health issues experienced by the latter.

“Secretary Año has been having to deal with health issues ever since the time of the pandemic. However, he has kindly agreed to stay on in the NSC as he feels,” President Marcos said in a statement read by Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a Malacañang briefing on Tuesday.

“And our President agrees that he can continue the fine job that he has been doing,” Castro said.

“Maaari pong manatili si Secretary Año hangga’t kakayanin po ng kanyang kalusugan,” Castro added.

President Marcos appointed Año to head the NSC in January 2023.

The 63-year-old Año is a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, who was appointed secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government during the previous administration.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he fell ill with the virus thrice and underwent heart bypass surgery twice. | PND