Philippines' Marcos says ready to take peacekeeping role in Southeast Asia

On October 5, 2022, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos speaks at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Multistakeholder Forum in Manila, Philippines. AARON FAVILA AP MANILA - Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos said that the Philippines is ready to take the role of peacekeeping in Southeast Asia, emphasizing that the peacemaker role is good for the country's interests and regional security.

Marcos also stressed the need to strengthen the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN to make it more responsive to future challenges and enable the regional bloc to do more than it has accomplished, suggesting he will raise the issue at ASEAN meetings in November.

Marcos said that the Philippines has a vital role in keeping peace, especially given the geopolitical tensions in the region. He said that we have a very important part to play in that because we have a great interest.

Marcos suggested that he will raise the issue at the ASEAN meeting in November and that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN should be strengthened to respond to future challenges and enable the regional bloc to do more than it has accomplished, as well as to make it more responsive to future challenges.

He said that the group should try to push its member countries to present a united front and move it forward in order to make sure it has a function in the normal scheme of the geopolitics. ALSO READ: Cambodia emphasizes the need to improve ASEAN connectivity.