President Duterte is prodding the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to "stand with Myanmar", which according to some observers is in the middle of an escalating civil war.
A statement from Malacañang Tuesday night, Oct. 26 said Duterte made the call at the 39th ASEAN Summit, saying that the member-states should "stand with Myanmar in solving its crisis peacefully for the welfare of its people".
The Philippine leader urged all parties in Myanmar to engage in constructive dialogue, stressing that the ASEAN Special Envoy must be allowed to visit Myanmar soon to meet all relevant parties.
The internal conflict in the former Burma has been worrying its neighbors, with the state's military clamping down on peaceful protests and killing civilians in the process. Myanmar is just eight months removed from an upheaval that saw the deposing of its former civilian government.
Duterte is attending the simultaneous 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits virtually via video conference.
The events, which are being hosted by Brunei, will run from Oct. 26 to 28.