Statement: On the Philippine Participation at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in Jakarta

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has designated Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. as his Special Envoy to the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting to be held on 24 April 2021 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Philippines strongly supported the convening of the Meeting even without the full attendance of all ASEAN Leaders. This special Leaders’ meeting will address urgent matters in the region, including recovery efforts, the situation in Myanmar, ASEAN community building efforts, external relations, and regional and international issues.

The President, through Secretary Locsin, will convey the Philippines’ commitment to ASEAN’s collective efforts in addressing threats and challenges to peace and stability in the region.  Secretary Locsin will also express the Philippines’ strong support to the initiative of Brunei Darussalam and the Secretary-General of ASEAN to use their good offices, in accordance with the ASEAN Charter, to visit Myanmar and spearhead ASEAN’s response to the crisis in Myanmar.  

The President has decided to remain in the country to attend to pressing domestic concerns in light of the surge of COVID-19 cases.  As of 21 April 2021, there are 116,434 active cases in the country, with 9,227 new confirmed cases added to the overall total of 962,307. END