Retired Air Force General Eduardo Oban Jr. has been selected by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to serve as the nation’s next national security adviser, succeeding Eduardo Año who is stepping down from the position due to medical reasons after a three-year tenure.
The transition was officially confirmed by Undersecretary Claire Castro during Tuesday’s Malacañang press briefing on April 15, where she acknowledged both Año’s resignation and the selection of his replacement for this crucial security role.
Castro praised Año’s contributions during his time in office, stating: “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.”
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Medical Concerns Prompt Año’s Exit
Set to officially conclude his duties on April 16, Año attributed his departure to “health reasons that require my full attention and care,” marking the end of his service that began in January 2023.
Año characterized his exit as a “permanent retirement” driven by medical issues that have become more pressing in recent months, acknowledging the need to prioritize his wellbeing.
“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 explained. “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 outgoing adviser emphasized that “an orderly transition is underway” and maintained confidence that “critical operations and ongoing initiatives will continue” under incoming leadership.
Health challenges have previously affected Año’s government service. During his tenure as interior secretary under former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2021, he required two heart surgeries and took extended medical leave. According to sources familiar with the situation, Año had previously attempted to resign multiple times, including submitting what he termed an “irrevocable” resignation when Marcos requested courtesy resignations from Cabinet members last year, though the President convinced him to stay.
New Appointee’s Military Reform Credentials
At 70 years old, incoming adviser Eduardo Oban Jr. brings decades of military leadership experience and a strong track record in institutional reform. The retired Air Force general previously held the position of armed forces chief of staff in 2011 under the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III during a turbulent time for military leadership.
His appointment as AFP chief coincided with major corruption scandals that had rocked the military establishment. The corrupt “pabaon” system—a longstanding tradition allowing retiring officers to receive substantial cash farewell gifts from military funds—had recently been exposed to public scrutiny. Simultaneously, whistleblowers had revealed the existence of a “comptroller mafia” that manipulated military budget allocations for personal benefit.
President Aquino specifically charged Oban with overhauling the systems that permitted such widespread corruption to take root. When Oban concluded his service as armed forces chief in 2012, he delivered a statement that became emblematic of his reform-minded approach.
“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 stated, meaning: “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.”
Post-Military Career Trajectory
After concluding his military service, Oban transitioned to leadership roles across government and private sectors. His first major appointment involved heading the Clark Development Corporation, the state enterprise responsible for managing and developing the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, a converted former US military installation.
He later accepted the role of undersecretary for operations within the transportation department before receiving appointment as executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in 2014. This commission oversees compliance with the Philippines’ military cooperation agreements with foreign nations.
The timing of his VFA commission appointment proved significant, as the Philippines was finalizing negotiations for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States. This landmark agreement permits Washington to preposition military equipment at designated Philippine military installations, and has since expanded under the current Marcos administration from five to nine authorized sites.
In recent years, Oban held executive positions in the private sector, serving as director of insurance provider Cocolife in 2022 while simultaneously chairing Cocolife Asset Management Inc. and related investment vehicles.
Independent Political Stance
Though maintaining relative anonymity since his Aquino administration service, Oban revealed his political preferences during the 2022 presidential campaign by publicly supporting Leni Robredo, who emerged as Marcos’ primary opposition candidate in the ultimately unsuccessful presidential bid.
This endorsement demonstrates Oban’s commitment to independent political judgment, even when such positions might conflict with future opportunities under different leadership.
Año’s West Philippine Sea Documentation Strategy
Throughout his national security adviser tenure, Año spearheaded the administration’s “transparency initiative” concerning West Philippine Sea disputes. This approach involved systematic documentation and public release of harassment incidents targeting Philippine vessels by Chinese maritime forces.
The strategy included embedding journalists with Philippine Coast Guard vessels during critical rotation and resupply operations to Ayungin Shoal, where the BRP Sierra Madre maintains the Philippines’ symbolic presence. For more than a year, media representatives gained extraordinary access to these sensitive missions, while government agencies consistently published confrontation footage for global audiences.
This transparency campaign successfully highlighted China’s aggressive tactics in contested waters and enhanced cooperation with the Philippines’ established and emerging security allies. Manila continues implementing modified versions of this approach in select West Philippine Sea operations, though Ayungin Shoal mission access concluded following establishment of a “provisional arrangement” between Beijing and Manila after a violent June 12, 2024 confrontation.
Complex Security Environment Awaits
Oban inherits leadership during a transformative period in Philippine security priorities. The nation has reoriented its military emphasis from domestic to external threats while major powers increasingly challenge established international frameworks.
Since 2014, when the Philippines maintained military cooperation agreements exclusively with the United States and Australia, the country has dramatically expanded its defense partnerships. The Marcos government has concluded similar agreements with Japan, New Zealand, Canada, and France, while actively pursuing comparable arrangements with the United Kingdom.
All six partner nations are scheduled to participate in Balikatan 2026 exercises, the annual bilateral US-Philippine military training that has evolved into a multilateral security cooperation platform.
Castro expressed optimism about Oban’s qualifications for addressing these multifaceted challenges, noting his extensive experience positions him well for the demanding role ahead.
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