No ASEAN consensus yet on recognition of recent Myanmar polls — spox

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has yet to reach a consensus on whether it will recognize the recent election in Myanmar, which was won by Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, ASEAN 2026 spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial said Wednesday.

At a press briefing for the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Lapu-Lapu City, Imperial said there is continued engagement within member-states regarding their relations with Myanmar.

“On the question on the Myanmar situation, including the results of the elections, as you know, at the moment, ASEAN has not reached any consensus with regard to the recognition of the results of the election in Myanmar,” Imperial said.

By being elected president of Myanmar last month, Min Aung Hlaing formalized his grip on political power in the war-torn nation five years after he ousted the administration of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.

Imperial said that ASEAN members are still looking at developments regarding the implementation of the five-point consensus (5PC), which calls for the cessation of violence and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar.

“Because the 5PC remains to be the framework wherein, how we deal with, how the region deals with Myanmar at the moment. That has not changed and including the leaders’ decision with regard to the 5PC—-that is still the main framework that we are guided by,” he explained.

“And so for that reason, we will continue dealing with Myanmar in terms of the situation there with regard to how the progress is being done regarding the 5PC,” he added.

Malacañang earlier said that Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro would continue to consult with the country as the Special Envoy of the ASEAN chair to Myanmar.

The Philippines is the Chair of ASEAN in 2026. — RSJ, GMA News