The Philippines failed to secure a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday, 3 June, after falling short of the required two-thirds majority in the UN General Assembly vote.
Kyrgyzstan won the Asia-Pacific seat with 142 votes, surpassing the threshold needed for victory, while the Philippines received 49 votes in the final round of voting among 190 valid ballots.
The election completed the selection of five new non-permanent members, with Austria and Portugal representing the Western European and Others Group, Trinidad and Tobago for the Latin American and Caribbean Group, and Zimbabwe for the African Group.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro congratulated Kyrgyzstan and said the Philippines respects the outcome of the election.
“The Philippines respects the decision of the member states of the United Nations and extends its congratulations to the Kyrgyz Republic following today’s election for the non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council,” Lazaro said.
The UNSC is the UN’s most powerful body tasked with maintaining international peace and security, including authorizing ceasefires, peacekeeping missions, and sanctions.