The Philippines on Tuesday, February 9, called for the “complete restoration” of the status quo in Myanmar, where thousands have defied curfews and bans on gatherings in recent days to oppose a military takeover of its democratically elected government. 

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr issued the country’s position in a statement on Tuesday night, a marked departure from Manila’s first statement that it would not interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs.

The foreign affairs chief said the Philippines supported a fuller democracy in Myanmar, taking note of its “Army’s role in preserving its territorial integrity and national security, as well as the unifying role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the history of the country and Army her father founded.” 

“The realization of this democratic process can only be achieved through the complete restoration of the status quo ante,” Locsin said. 

Locsin’s latest position comes days after the Philippines had gone from non-interference to expressing “deep concern” over the military coup. 

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Locsin had earlier expressed support for a return to the “status quo” in Myanmar, saying he wanted to work with countries in the region restore this and “put back” Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who the military had arrested in early morning raids last February 1. 

“Now my job is to try and put her back. Maybe convince the powers that be, the status quo ante was working. Let’s see if you can go back to that,” Locsin told lawmakers at the Philippines’ Senate. (READ: Locsin on Myanmar coup: ‘The West destroyed Suu Kyi’)

The actions of Myanmar’s military came after rising tensions over the result of recent elections where Suu Kyi and her party won in a landslide victory, capturing 396 out of 476 seats in the November 8 polls. Along with Suu Kyi, other top officials of the National League for Democracy were detained just hours before Myanmar’s parliament was scheduled to convene. 

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The coup has caused unrest in Myanmar, which was under direct military rule for almost half a century until 2011. Since then, the army began a process of withdrawing from civilian politics, though it never gave up its overall control over the Suu Kyi civilian government after it won a 2015 election. 

In a televised address on Monday, February 8, Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing said elections would be held to hand power to the new winner. He added the junta would form a “true and disciplined democracy” different to previous eras of military rule. – with reports from Reuters/Rappler.com