MANILA, Philippines -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro will lead a two-day humanitarian mission in Myanmar this week but is not certain whether she will meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The military junta in Myanmar initially placed Suu Kyi, also a human rights activist, under house arrest in July 1989. She was released years later but was arrested again in 2021 during a coup.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Lazaro, in her capacity as Special Envoy of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) chairman, will lead the mission in from Oct. 28 to 29.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as chairman of Asean in 2026, has designated Lazaro as Asean Special Envoy to Myanmar. She was tasked to facilitate a peaceful solution to the Myanmar political crisis.
Asked whether Lazaro will meet with Suu Kyi, DFA Assistant Secretary Dax Imperial said, "[There are] No details on such a meeting."
"For now, what we have is the humanitarian mission in Shan State and engagements in Nay Pyi Taw," Imperial said in a text message.
The Philippines, as 2026 Asean chairman, reaffirms the 5PC as Asean’s primary reference to address the political crisis in Myanmar.
Lazaro remains committed to engaging with all parties concerned to implement the 5PC, particularly the "cessation of hostilities, facilitation of constructive dialogue, the mediation of the dialogue process, and expansion of humanitarian assistance in Myanmar," the DFA said.
After subsequent intermittent releases, Suu Kyi was arrested again during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021. After spending years in prison, she was commuted and transferred back to house arrest on May 1.
