Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 23) — The Philippines obtained support from 16 members of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in its bid for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), congressional leaders said on Thursday.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said there were initially 15 nations in the list, but House Speaker Martin Romualdez said one more country expressed support.
\”Hindi na lang namin babanggitin kasi obviously…we don’t want to telegraph our punches because of course, may kalaban tayo sa posisyon na ‘yan,\” said Zubiri in a press briefing at the sidelines of the opening of the 31st APPF in Manila.
[Translation: We will not mention them because obviously…we don’t want to telegraph our punches because of course, there are other countries competing for that position.]
Zubiri said he and Romualdez need to \”court\” more APPF members to support the country’s campaign in the UNSC.
A seat in the UNSC will allow the Philippines to participate in dialogues and voting on important security matters.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. first announced the country’s bid for a non-permanent seat in 2022.
Of the 15-member UNSC, five have a permanent seat with veto power: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The 10 non-permanent members have a two-year term and can be reinstated if elected by the UN General Assembly.
