Lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Tuesday filed a resolution urging the executive branch, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs, to take bolder initiatives within ASEAN to address the worsening human rights and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
House Resolution No. 342, filed by Representatives Leila de Lima, Bienvenido Abante, Arlene Bag-ao, Chel Diokno, Sarah Jane Elago, Cielo Krisel Lagman, Rufus Rodriguez, and several others, calls for regional action to restore democracy, justice, and stability in Myanmar.
The measure cites the Philippines’ obligations under international law to promote and protect human rights and uphold humanitarian principles that respect the dignity and worth of every person.
It noted that since the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the situation has “significantly deteriorated,” with reports of 5,900 aerial and drone attacks resulting in over 3,200 deaths and widespread violence against civilians and human rights defenders.
The lawmakers said ASEAN must step up efforts to help end the violence and restore democratic governance in Myanmar, consistent with the region’s commitment to peace, stability, and respect for human rights.
