Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro (left) with Acting President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. (Photo courtesy of DFA)
Malacañang on Friday said the Philippines will sustain its engagement with Myanmar following the election of military leader Min Aung Hlaing as president through a parliamentary vote, signaling Manila’s continued support for regional diplomatic efforts despite the Southeast Asian nation’s deepening political crisis.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government is closely monitoring the latest developments in Myanmar, particularly the election of Min Aung, and stressed that the Philippines will remain involved through both diplomatic and regional channels.
“The Philippines will continue to engage relevant authorities and stakeholders in Myanmar through Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, in her capacity as Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair to Myanmar, as well as through our respective embassies,” Castro said.
Manila’s position underscores its commitment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ push to help resolve the conflict in Myanmar, where violence and instability have persisted since the military seized power in February 2021.
ASEAN has been attempting to address the crisis through its Five-Point Consensus, a regional framework that calls for an immediate cessation of violence, inclusive dialogue among all parties, the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and the appointment of a special envoy to facilitate peace efforts.
In November 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. designated Foreign Affairs Secretary Lazaro as the Philippines’ Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair to Myanmar, reinforcing the country’s role in advancing ASEAN-led initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability.
Castro said the Philippines remains firm in backing the bloc’s collective efforts and called for renewed momentum toward the “full and effective” implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.
She said Manila is particularly hopeful that regional action could help bring an end to the violence and ensure the safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar, who continue to bear the brunt of the prolonged conflict.
Min Aung, who has led Myanmar’s military government since the 2021 coup, was elected president by a parliament dominated by the military, further cementing his grip on power amid ongoing unrest.
The coup ousted the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi and sparked mass protests, armed resistance, and widespread international condemnation, plunging Myanmar into prolonged turmoil.
Since then, fighting has intensified between the military and various resistance forces across the country, while military authorities have maintained that their actions were necessary to restore order and have continued to promise future elections.
