By Filane Mikee Cervantes | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday voiced grave concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the escalating violence in the Middle East, urging all parties to negotiate for peace.
“The Philippines as well is gravely concerned over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the increasing tensions in the Middle East region, particularly in Lebanon,” Marcos said in his intervention during the 19th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Vientiane, Laos.
“We urge all parties to refrain from escalating the violence and to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
The President reaffirmed the Philippines’ support for a two-state solution, calling for Israel and Palestine to “coexist peacefully in mutual security.”
Marcos, meanwhile, reported that the Philippine government has mobilized its resources to repatriate affected Filipino nationals.
According to Philippine authorities, 192 Filipinos in Lebanon are prepared to return home, while 413 more are in process.
On the situation in the Korean Peninsula, Marcos reiterated the Philippines’ stance on peace and stability and called for denuclearization.
He condemned North Korea’s recent intercontinental ballistic missile launches, emphasizing that such actions undermine regional peace, security, and stability.
He urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to comply with all relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and welcomed the Republic of Korea’s efforts to promote peace and stability in the Peninsula.
“We have consistently supported the call for a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the DPRK,” he said.
Marcos cited the “Audacious Initiative” and the “15 August Unification Doctrine” as important efforts to advance peace.
He called on EAS member states to renew their commitment to an open, inclusive regional order underpinned by the rule of law, as a means of addressing global challenges and fostering peaceful resolutions to conflicts.
The EAS consists of 18 participating countries—the 10 ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), as well as Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States.
