Good morning from the ASEAN media center at the KLCC. The 47th ASEAN Summit kicks off today. Bloc leaders arrive in a few mins.

This morning's highlight includes the signing of the declaration on the admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN.

Marcos is also set to hold three bilateral meetings today — with Cambodia, Canada, and Thailand.

Welcoming Timor-Leste to ASEAN

Applause breaks out here at the media center as Timor-Leste is officially welcomed into the bloc and its flag, placed in the lineup of ASEAN member-states. One reporter approaches the Philippine media delegation — mistakenly assuming we're Timorese based off our reactions. My colleagues joke that we're just a very emotional people and that we're happy for Timor-Leste.

Thank you, Bea.

SITUATIONAL REPORT

TIPO-TIPO UNDER SIEGE

An armed confrontation erupted around 7:00 AM today between government forces and lawless elements reportedly backed by MILF within the downtown area of Tipo-Tipo Municipality.

As of this report, heavy exchange of gunfire continues within residential areas of the town proper.

Negotiations conducted late last night by the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and Kumander Rajan with the said lawless elements yielded no positive results.

-Mayor Tong Istarul

The 47th ASEAN Summit is about to come to a close in Kuala Lumpur. Rappler’s Bea Cupin walks you through what’s happened in three days of summits, agreements, pull-asides, and bilateral meetings from October 26 to 28. https://www.youtube.com/live/AYWRlCxwKBQ

We are a very emotional and happy people despite the flooding caused by corruption in our flood control projects. 😅

Nice Information

LOOK: ASEAN 2026 logo for the Philippines' chairmanship.

The Philippines, as chair of the block, will be hosting hundreds (up too 600, possibly) of meetings in 2026.

What challenges await Manila as chair? READ: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/view-manila-asean-chair-challenges-2026/

DFA Sec Lazaro is also ASEAN chair’s Special Envoy to Myanmar 

At the launch of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship for 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro will also be the Philippines’ Special Envoy of the Chair on Myanmar. 

“We are confident that she shall bring a constructive, principled, and inclusive approach to supporting the people of Myanmar, guided by her mandate and the five-point consensus, as we work together towards peace, stability, and reconciliation. Secretary Tess, you better get this done. I already made the promise to everyone,” said Marcos. 

The five-point consensus or the 5PC is a roadmap for peace that ASEAN leaders agreed on in 2021 after the military junta took over Myanmar. Thus far, the junta has refused to follow the 5PC. 

Myanmar is set to hold elections in December 2025. 

Marcos, Zelenskyy call

Marcos statement: "I spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today to reaffirm our warm relations and discuss areas where our countries can work together. We focused on cooperation in food security, agriculture, and digitalization. As the Philippines assumes the Chairship of ASEAN, we also discussed ways to strengthen ASEAN–Ukraine engagement for the benefit of our peoples."

Zelenskyy had earlier posted on social media: I expressed condolences to the President for the lives lost and the destruction caused by the typhoons. I briefed him on our joint work with the United States and other partners on the steps toward establishing a guaranteed peace. I am grateful for the Philippines’ support for the peace efforts, for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for the clear stance. We discussed areas of cooperation: food security, agriculture, and digitalization. The Philippines is also interested in the expertise and technologies Ukraine can offer. We agreed that our teams will follow up on all these matters in the near future."

Ukraine's embassy in the Philippine denies Russia claims of Filipinos being recruited to fight in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Embassy statement:

We reject and refute the baseless fabrications of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the alleged recruitment of Filipino nationals to participate in hostilities on the side of Ukraine. These claims have no factual foundation whatsoever and do not correspond to reality.

Ukraine and the Philippines enjoy strong, friendly, and dynamic bilateral relations built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to international law. This was reaffirmed just yesterday during the telephone conversation between the Presidents of the two countries.

The Russian insinuation concerning the Philippines is not accidental; it is part of a systematic disinformation campaign by the Russian Federation aimed at discrediting Ukraine and its Defense Forces. Just days ago, we “caught” a similar Russian fake about supposed “recruitment” in the Republic of Korea — and officially debunked it. Now Russian propagandists have decided to spread another fabricated story in the Philippines. This demonstrates a deliberate focus of Russian propaganda on the states of Southeast Asia.

We call on all states and international partners to handle information responsibly and not succumb to manipulations and falsehoods aimed at undermining stability and trust.

NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES

Beijing's second-highest official in Washington DC is now its envoy to the Philippines. Jing Quan arrives in Manila on December 6, according to a news article by China's Global Times. The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has yet to post about his arrival on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts or its official website, but has reportedly made the announcement via WeChat.

Jing is quoted by Global Times as saying: "As ambassador, I will firmly safeguard national interests and dignity while serving as a bridge to ensure that China-Philippines relations move toward stability rather than deterioration, and that the two peoples grow closer rather than further apart."

Jing was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC before his appointment as envoy to the Philippines. It's going to be an interesting tour of duty for Jing, who comes as the Philippines tries to manuever its relationship with Beijing all while it aspires to conclude negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China (as ASEAN chair!) even as tensions in the West Philippine Sea between the two Asian counties persist.

PHOTOS: US, PH hold joint maritime drills days after China harasses Filipino fisherfolk 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command held the 10th US-Philippines bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) on December 15, days after the China Coast Guard used watercannons and harassed Filipino fisherfolk close to Escoda Shoal int he West Philippines. 

The 10th MCA was held west of Zambales, with the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The joint exercise happened just 5 days after the 9th MCA, also held in the West Philippine Sea from December 9 to 10. 

According to the AFP, the 10th MCA involved the Philippines’ BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), three (3) A-29B Super Tucano, three (3) FA-50 fighter jets, and a Sokol Search and Rescue helicopter and the US Indopacom’s USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft. 

The two militaries conducted a Communication Checks Exercise, Maritime Domain Awareness Reporting, Raid Exercise, Division Tactics/Officer of the Watch Maneuver with Photo Exercise, and a Low Pass/Fly-by. Naval Special Warfare Unit-9 also conducted a  Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) activity aboard the Malvar. 

“The successful conduct of the 10th Bilateral MCA underscores the shared commitment of the Philippines and the United States to uphold a rules-based Indo-Pacific region in accordance with international law, while affirming support for the freedom of navigation and overflight, and contributing to maritime security, regional stability, and a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said the AFP. 

(Photos courtesy of the AFP/FFG-06)

AFP STATEMENT —

On travel history of Bondi mass shooting suspect

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is aware of media reports regarding the alleged travel of certain foreign individuals to the Philippines and possible links to terrorist groups.

At this time, there is no validated information confirming such claims. Matters involving the movements of foreign nationals and potential terrorist links are being closely coordinated through the appropriate government agencies.

The AFP continues to work with the broader security sector to maintain vigilance against any form of terrorism and remains fully committed to supporting civilian authorities in safeguarding national security, in accordance with the Constitution and existing laws.

AFP spox Col Francel Padilla: The Bureau of Immigration confirms their visit to the country, however, it is not conclusive on the claims that both suspects are linked to any terrorist group and received training here in our country.

The AFP statement is clear, we are validating such information together with other govt agencies and the broader intelligence community.

Boring: harassment-drill-protest-infinitum. The sequence is very dull and never-ending! 😡

Major Jerome Jacuba, whom President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered reinstated after he was discharged due to his blindness, dons his new rank during today's AFP anniversary celebration.

Marcos, at the AFP's 90th anniversary celebration said "claims that portray our country as a training hotspot for terrorism" not acceptable.

Here's the part of that speech: "We also reject in the strongest terms the recent misleading claims that portray our country as a training hotspot for terrorism. For years, we have acted decisively to dismantle terrorist networks, to secure communities, and to sustain our hard-earned peace. To dismiss these gains with unfounded speculation is not acceptable."