The Philippines has officially accepted the Chairship of the Advisory Board of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR), following the formal handover from Malaysia during the 17th Advisory Board Meeting held on 16 October 2025, at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The country will serve as Chair of the ASEAN-IPR Advisory Board in 2026, coinciding with the Philippines’ assumption of the ASEAN Chairship, further underscoring its regional leadership in promoting peace and reconciliation.
Executive Director Andres Aguinaldo, Jr., Philippine Representative to the ASEAN-IPR Advisory Board, received the Advisory Board chairship from Dr. Abdul Razak Ahmad of Malaysia.
Aguinaldo also serves as Executive Director for Plans and Programs of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and concurrent Executive Director of the Philippine Peace Institute (PPI).
In his acceptance remarks, Aguinaldo thanked Dr. Ahmad and the Malaysian delegation for their “dedicated and inspiring leadership,” commending their efforts to strengthen ASEAN-IPR as “a beacon of knowledge, dialogue, and collaboration in advancing the culture of peace across the region.”
The Philippines assumes the chairship “with humility, gratitude, and a deep sense of commitment,” and reaffirmed OPAPRU’s continuing support for ASEAN-IPR’s peace and reconciliation initiatives.
Aguinaldo also cited the establishment of the Philippine Peace Institute, envisioned as the country’s premier center for peace research, education, and capacity development.
“Together, OPAPRU and the PPI serve as vital platforms linking the Philippines’ national peacebuilding experience with regional and global initiatives such as those of the ASEAN-IPR,” he said.
As incoming chair, Aguinaldo outlined three key priorities for the Philippines’ 2026 term: promoting peace education and collaborative research within ASEAN-IPR; strengthening partnerships among governments, academia, and civil society; and upholding dialogue, inclusivity, and mutual respect as guiding principles of the institute’s work.
“These principles are not only embedded in ASEAN’s DNA—they are also the foundation of the Philippines’ peacebuilding efforts at home and abroad,” Aguinaldo said.
“We stand ready to carry forward this spirit of collaboration and ensure that ASEAN-IPR continues to serve as a home for dialogue, reconciliation, and lasting peace in our region.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN, has been designated as the new Philippine Representative to the ASEAN-IPR Governing Council and will also serve as the Incoming Chair of the ASEAN-IPR Governing Council for 2026.
