LIVE UPDATES: ASEAN Summit 2026 (May 8, 2026)

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu —President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Friday that leaders of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have expressed frustration over the slow progress in resolving the crisis in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup.

In a press conference for the culmination of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, Marcos described the situation in Myanmar as a “thorny problem” with no obvious solutions yet as of the moment.

“We certainly do not believe that we have not done enough. But the question was different. The question was, what more can we do? And that's how the discussion was directed. And what more can we do because it's not moving forward,” the Philippine President told reporters.

“But it is certainly frustrating for the member states that the process has not moved. Or if it has moved, it has moved very little. Certainly not as much as we had hoped it would have by this time,” he added. 

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LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced Friday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has adopted the Cebu Protocol, which will amend the bloc’s Charter for the first time in nearly two decades.

The Philippine President said this in a press conference following the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings.

“Another significant outcome was the adoption of the Cebu Protocol to amend the Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This marks the first amendment to the [ASEAN] Charter since 2007,” Marcos said.

“It’s an important milestone not only for Timor-Leste’s full integration into ASEAN, but also for ASEAN’s continuing evolution as a stronger and more inclusive regional community,” he added. 

LAPU-LAPU CITY — Leaders of member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are calling for peace in the Middle East, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Friday.

Marcos said this in a press conference following the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.

“Again, until the fighting ends, until the bombings end, it is very difficult to put together any kind of solution—if you want to call it that. That is why the call essentially is peace now,” Marcos said.

Marcos said the ASEAN foreign ministers have already put out that document, "calling all parties to cease hostilities, and to take a step back, open the Strait of Hormuz, and find a way for a lasting peace. This is between the US, Israel, and Iran."

Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday called on fellow heads of states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to find the best course of action for the region amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

During the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, Marcos emphasized that the leaders meet at a time of “considerable challenge” due to the impacts of the tensions in the Middle East on the people.

“The increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East has impacted our region, challenging us to remain agile in the face of uncertainties which threaten lifestyles, livelihoods, and lives,” he said.

“Over the past months, each of our countries has had to make adjustments to modify our approaches. So we come together now to study those adjustments, to find the best approaches, to face the future, together,” he added.

Cambodia and Thailand have directed their foreign ministers to sustain dialogue to prevent the escalation of conflict between the two countries, as the Philippines arranged the trilateral meeting to discuss their border issues on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. made the announcement, which was affirmed by the Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

"This meeting was arranged by the Philippines as a way to provide its good offices in our capacity as Chair of ASEAN for 2026 to Cambodia and Thailand in order to provide a meaningful space for constructive dialogue on their bilateral border issues," Marcos said in a joint press conference.