Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the Philippines has an obligation to call for an end and join other countries in condemning the repression in Myanmar due to its own experience under Martial Law.

Lacson pointed this out when he and other presidential bets were asked about the human rights situation in Myanmar during the Commission on Elections (Comelec) presidential debates.

Myanmar has been under military rule since the junta launched a coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February 2021.

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief said the Philippines should join the community of nations under the United Nations or other ASEAN countries in condemning the military junta.

“Ang PH ay isang bansa na sumaililm din sa panahon ng napakahabang panahon ng repression under ML. At ngayon ang Myanmar ay in a (The Philippines is a nation that also went through a long period of represession under martial law. And now Myanmar is in a) similar situation,” Lacson said.

“So dapat ang Philippines bilang kabahagi ng United Nations, community of nations na kasama sa UN Declaration of Human Rights, ay kung di man makapanguna ay sumali o mag-join sa declaration ng ASEAN countries para manawagan sa ibang bansa at sa Myanmar na rin upang tigilan ang repression sa kanilang mga citizens (So the Philippines, as part of the UN’s community of nations, that is also signatory to the UN Declaration of Human Rights, should at least join, if it can’t lead, in the declaration of ASEAN countries in calling for Myanmar to stop repressing its citizens),” he said.

“Obligasyon po natin yan di lamang sa dahil dumaan din tayo sa ganoong panahon kung hindi signatory tayo sa UN at kabilang tayo sa mga sumali sa UN Declaration of Human Rights. So yan ang aking position. (We have an obligation, not just because we went through the same period, but also because we are signatory to the UN and we are part of those who joined the UN Declaration of Human Rights. So that is my position),” the senator added.

Should he win in the upcoming May elections, Lacson said he will do his part in trying to lead other ASEAN countries to condemn the repression happening in Myanmar if no other nations will.

“Bilang pangulo, dapat kung walang mangunguna, dapat manguna tayo sa ASEAN countries para kondenahin ang repression na nangyayari sa bansang Myanmar (As president, if no one will initiate, we should lead among other ASEAN countries in condemning the repression in Myanmar),” Lacson said.