Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has announced the appointment of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro as the Philippines' Special Envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chair on Myanmar. The announcement was made during the launch of the Philippines' ASEAN 2026 chairship at Foro de Intramuros in Manila.

According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos expressed confidence in Secretary Lazaro's ability to bring a constructive and principled approach to supporting the people of Myanmar. He highlighted her mandate and alignment with the Five-Point Consensus as pivotal in working towards peace, stability, and reconciliation in the region. Marcos emphasized the importance of championing peace and stability in Southeast Asia through dialogue, adherence to international law, and enhanced cooperation on various security issues.

Marcos stressed the importance of cooperation and understanding within ASEAN to strengthen its role as a global force for peace and progress. Lazaro's role as Special Envoy is part of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, which calls for an immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue among all parties, the appointment of an ASEAN Special Envoy, provision of humanitarian aid, and engagement with all concerned parties.

The political crisis in Myanmar, stemming from the February 2021 military coup, has posed a significant challenge to ASEAN's capacity to mediate conflicts and maintain regional stability. The Special Envoy role is designed as a diplomatic mechanism to facilitate dialogue and humanitarian assistance in accordance with the Five-Point Consensus.