Marcos eyes Myanmar's peace reset

The President is eyeing to try a new approach in the Myanmar conflict by the time the Philippines assumes the chairmanship of the Asean Summit next year.

According to Marcos, the Asean member-states agreed that the situation in Myanmar has gotten worse since the conflict began.

He noted that it is critical to “try something different”.

Marcos raised this proposal to the current chairman of the Asean, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who then reached out to different stakeholders in Myanmar to “get a feel of what needs to be done and how they can bring [it].”

The Asean called for a ceasefire in Myanmar to allow humanitarian aid to enter the country and to identify the refugees who escaped the country and went to Thailand and Indonesia.

Marcos said the conflict won’t be resolved in a year.

“I proposed to PM Anwar, which he agreed with, is that let us come to an agreement that since I am the Chair for next year, that we should look – do not limit – you should not limit yourself to making commitments or entering into agreements that may last beyond your chairmanship,” he said, as he spoke to the Malaysian leader.

Marcos assured the Malaysian Prime Minister that any actions that he agrees with, will remain and be followed by the Philippines in next year’s Asean Summit.

“Because so long as you and I agree, you PM Anwar and me, we agree on the principle of what you are committing to for Asean and for with Myanmar. And even if it continues beyond your chairmanship, we will pick it up when we become chairman and we will build on that,” he said in his talks to Ibrahim.

Marcos said negotiations with Myanmar reset in every Asean summit.

“So, I think that there's new thinking now when it comes to Myanmar,” he noted.

Marcos hopes that the upcoming elections in Myanmar will result in a ceasefire as stakeholders in Myanmar cannot find any kind of common ground.

He shared that even Myanmar’s opposition party struggles to unite as they squabble.

“They're still squabbling, they’re factionalized. So, it's become quite involved and very complicated,” he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia has appointed a special envoy to attempt to bridge gaps within Myanmar since early this year.

Marcos said he also sent a special representative to aid in the mission, upon the request of Ibrahim.