Pres. Duterte and four ex-Philippine presidents meet for the first time

For the first time, President Rodrigo Duterte and former presidents Benigno Aquino III, Fidel Ramos, and Gloria Arroyo and Joseph Estrada have met for the National Security Council meeting.

The meeting came in the wake of arbitral tribunal's ruling invalidating China's massive South China Sea claim. It also came after US Secretary of State John Kerry and US congressional delegation paid a courtesy call on Duterte before noon Wednesday at Malacanang palace, Manila.

Malacanang said Duterte and Kerry had a working lunch where they affirmed the "long-standing" relationship between the two countries and discussed a wide range of "common concerns" such as terrorism, crime, drugs, religious fanaticism and maritime security.

According to ABS CBN report, Duterte and the four ex-presidents convened in one room to discuss policy and chart a course for the future of the country.

Malacañang palace spokesperson Ernesto Abella was quoted as saying that an overview of the road map for peace and development was presented in the first council meeting under the Duterte administration.

The council was also given an update on the government's campaign against illegal drugs.

Charter change and a shift to federalism was also discussed in the meeting.

Ramos, a member of the council, earlier agreed to become Manila's special envoy to Beijing.

Malacañang earlier said Duterte would convene the NSC ''in order to agree on vital policies and strategies on important matters, including the recent ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the West Philippine Sea."

The council is composed of 35 leader-members from the executive and legislative branches of government, such as Vice President Leni Robredo, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the majority and minority leaders of both Houses of Congress, chairs of Senate and House committees involved in national security concerns, and various members of the Cabinet. MGP News