Some Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries are displeased and want to kick out Myanmar, which is currently under internal political conflict, from the regional bloc.
That was what President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. bared after meeting with fellow leaders from ASEAN during its summits in Cambodia.
The reason for which, he said, was that Myanmar was not implementing the Five-Point consensus, which was agreed upon by ASEAN members to stop violence in the junta-ruled nation and call for dialogue among concerned parties.
"That was a little contentious. Kasi may mga bansa, sabi nila, basta tanggalin na natin ang Myanmar sa ASEAN. O basta't huwag nating imbitahin at all (Some countries are saying to just remove Myanmar from ASEAN or let's not invite it at our summits at all)," he told reporters on Sunday night after the conclusion of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits.
"Mayroon naman nagsasabi na hindi huwag lang 'yung mga nasa taas, pero 'yung sa ilalim kailangan pa rin natin kausapin 'yan," he added.
Marcos said ASEAN leaders "came down on different, slightly different positions along the entire spectrum of completely kicking out Myanmar from ASEAN and for engaging them fully."
"Nobody wanted to engage the generals. Nobody wanted to engage the high-level officials," he said.
But for the President, it is important to talk to everybody—both those in the position and those at the low levels, including those who are just willing to participate in the dialogues.