President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has named Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro as the ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, underscoring the Philippines’ commitment to regional peace and stability. 

The announcement was made during the launch of the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 chairship at Foro de Intramuros in Manila. Marcos expressed confidence that Lazaro would bring a “constructive, principled, and inclusive approach” to the role, guided by ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus. 

 “We are confident that she shall bring a constructive, principled, and inclusive approach to supporting the people of Myanmar, guided by her mandate and the Five-Point Consensus, as we work together towards peace, stability, and reconciliation,” Marcos said. 

The envoy’s mandate includes facilitating dialogue among all parties in Myanmar, supporting the cessation of violence, coordinating humanitarian assistance, and engaging stakeholders to promote reconciliation. 

Marcos emphasized that ASEAN must champion peace and stability in Southeast Asia through dialogue, adherence to international law, and cooperation on both traditional and non-traditional security issues. He added that through cooperation and understanding, ASEAN can strengthen its role as “a force for peace and progress in the global community.” 

Myanmar’s political crisis, which began with the February 2021 military coup, has posed a serious challenge to ASEAN’s ability to mediate conflicts and uphold regional stability. The appointment of Lazaro as special envoy is seen as a diplomatic mechanism to help facilitate dialogue and humanitarian assistance under the consensus framework.