Marcos: No common ASEAN position yet on sending poll observers to Myanmar

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has not yet decided on a common position if it will send election observers to Myanmar amid the civil unrest there.

In a “Kapihan” press briefing in Kuala Lumpur, Marcos said the regional bloc is leaving it to the discretion of each member-state regarding the upcoming elections in Myanmar.

“Pinag-uusapan talaga namin ‘yun, masinsinan naming pinag-usapan ‘yan. (We really discussed that thoroughly.) And I think what’s happened is ASEAN is leaving it to each country to decide on their own. ASEAN will not take a common position. Because in our discussions, everyone has a different idea,” the President said.

“We will have to decide for the Philippines what it is that we think we should do. We will watch other countries to see what they should do,” he added.

Marcos expressed hope that the 11-member regional bloc will eventually arrive at a common stand by December. He added that he will ask around for their respective opinions, now that the Philippines is chair of the ASEAN.

He acknowledged that while there are differences in opinion among the ASEAN members, “the differences are not enormous.”

“I still believe that we will come to a consensus as to what to do by December 28 when the election is scheduled… I think that if we talk about it some more, we will find a common ground as to what to do,” the President said.

He added: “It would be much preferable if ASEAN moves as one. So, that’s what I will try now, starting from now because it's already – ang schedule (the schedule is) December 28 na eh. So, we have to come to a decision as to what it is that we are going to do.”

“I think all the member states, all the leaders of the member states, understand that it would be much, much better if ASEAN took a common position and moved as one. That’s what I would be advocating for,” the Chief Executive said.

If there is no consensus among the ASEAN member-states, Marcos said the Philippines will move by itself on the issue of sending election observers to Myanmar.

“Then the Philippines will move by itself. Then we will agree to disagree. But that’s how ASEAN works. You make up your own mind,” Marcos said. — JMA, GMA Integrated News