MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, currently serving as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), announced that the bloc’s special envoy to Myanmar will embark on a two-day humanitarian mission to the conflict-torn nation starting Wednesday.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, acting in her capacity as ASEAN special envoy, will travel to Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw, as well as Shan State. While the Philippine government has not yet disclosed specific details regarding her scheduled engagements, the visit marks a critical diplomatic effort amid ongoing regional instability.
As of Wednesday, Myanmar's military junta has not officially confirmed Secretary Lazaro’s visit. The army-backed government previously asserted in August that an ASEAN special envoy was no longer necessary.
Escalating Crisis and Blocked Peace Efforts
Secretary Lazaro has repeatedly sought permission to meet with ousted democracy icon and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has remained in military detention since being overthrown in a February 2021 coup.
The military takeover plunged Myanmar into a devastating civil war, resulting in an estimated 100,000 deaths and driving more than 3.5 million people from their homes.
Due to the junta’s failure to implement ASEAN’s five-point peace consensus, Myanmar’s top military leadership remains barred from attending high-level ASEAN summits. Despite the official ban, several member states—including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos—have recently hosted coup leader Min Aung Hlaing for official visits.
Min Aung Hlaing assumed the presidency in April following a heavily criticized election dominated by an army-backed political party, as his administration actively seeks to restore diplomatic ties with ASEAN neighbors.
