The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday renewed its push for the release of Burmese prisoner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as Myanmar rejected the Philippine special envoy’s bid to meet the detained former leader, BusinessWorld reported. In a statement sent via WhatsApp, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Spokesperson Dominic Xavier M. Imperial said Secretary [details were not fully provided].
The Philippine government has been actively advocating for Suu Kyi's release through diplomatic channels, including the appointment of a special envoy. However, Myanmar's junta has consistently resisted international pressure and prevented foreign envoys from accessing the detained Nobel laureate.
The continued detention of Suu Kyi has strained ASEAN's unity, as member states are divided on how to engage with Myanmar's military leadership. The Philippines' latest appeal underscores the region's ongoing frustration with the lack of progress toward ending the crisis.