MANILA, July 24 — The re-engagement of Myanmar leaders into ASEAN meetings is “still far off” and is unlikely to happen within 2026 or Singapore’s chairmanship next year.
The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said there are still “questions” about Naypyidaw’s compliance with the Five-Point Consensus (5PC), which remains the bloc’s “primary reference” in addressing the crisis there.
“I guess, right now I can say it is still far off. At this point in time, it is still the Five-Point Consensus that is the foundational document that we are looking at.
“During the discussions with the foreign minister of Myanmar, there have been a lot of questions on their compliance with the Five-Point Consensus. It may not happen yet, but let us see the compliance that they can give,” she said during a media conference following the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Pasay City yesterday.
But Lazaro noted that ASEAN is “patient” and will wait and look “for whatever they can give" in terms of 5PC implementation.
“If there is compliance, then that means it will change. There is no view that a number of countries do not like Myanmar to sit in their seat. So, it is really the compliance with the 5PC,” she said.
On humanitarian assistance, Lazaro confirmed that she will lead a delegation to Myanmar in the fourth quarter of 2026, and visit certain areas occupied by ethnic organisations.
“The impact here is really trying to reach out to the vulnerable communities in Myanmar. Of course, permits will be asked from the junta government, and that now talks about their ability to really reach out to us,” she said.
The mission will be coordinated with the ASEAN Humanitarian Centre based in Jakarta and several other international humanitarian organisations, such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the World Food Programme.
