PH renews call to free Suu Kyi after Myanmar rejects Asean envoy

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines on Tuesday renewed its call for Myanmar to release detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners after international media reported that the military junta had rejected a request by the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) chair’s special envoy to meet the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who serves as the Asean chair’s special envoy on Myanmar, remains committed to advancing the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus through continued engagement with Myanmar authorities and other stakeholders.

“The secretary as special envoy of the Asean chair on Myanmar remains committed to the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC),” DFA spokesperson on Asean affairs Dax Imperial said in a statement.

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Myanmar authorities have denied the Philippine request, according to international media reports. Myanmar Presidential Office spokesperson Khaing Khaing Soe was quoted as saying Suu Kyi could not meet Lazaro because she is serving her sentence.

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“As Myanmar take steps in a positive direction, we reiterate the importance of releasing all other prisoners, particularly the elderly and infirm, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” Imperial said.

“Such actions are essential to advancing meaningful political dialogue as envisioned in the 5PC,” he added.

READ: PH urges Myanmar to give DFA chief ‘access’ to Suu KyiThe DFA also welcomed what it described as the amnesty granted to around 4,500 prisoners and Suu Kyi’s transfer from detention to house arrest.

The Philippines first sought access to Suu Kyi on May 6, when, as Asean chair, it urged Myanmar’s military government to allow Lazaro brief access to the detained former leader following reports that she had been moved from prison to house arrest and that her sentence had been reduced under an expanded amnesty program.

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At the time, the DFA said the request was intended to support the implementation of Asean’s Five-Point Consensus and promote inclusive dialogue among all parties.

The Marcos administration designated Lazaro as its special envoy on the Myanmar situation in November 2025, ahead of the Philippines’ Asean chairmanship.

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Imperial said Lazaro has consistently called on Myanmar’s authorities to take “concrete measures that contribute to genuine dialogue and meaningful progress,” including the release of political prisoners.

“In her engagements, the special envoy has always called for concrete measures that contribute to genuine dialogue and meaningful progress, which includes the release of prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” Imperial said.

Asean adopted the Five-Point Consensus in 2021 after Myanmar’s military seized power and ousted Suu Kyi’s elected government.

The peace plan calls for an immediate cessation of violence, dialogue among all parties, humanitarian assistance, the appointment of a special envoy and the envoy’s access to all parties involved.

Myanmar’s military government has faced repeated criticism from Asean and the international community for making little progress in implementing the consensus as conflict and political unrest continue. /das

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