Palace: Senate rift cost us UNSC seat
Malacañang cited the political turmoil in the Senate as one of the reasons for the country’s failed bid to become a nonpermanent member of the powerful United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
“All the political noise and all the political tensions have an impact, and these are what the entire nation and the rest of the world see as their impression of the Philippines,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said on Thursday.
“It creates a negative perception because of all this noise, most of which are caused by obstructionists, as the President earlier described them,” she added.
President Marcos personally lobbied for the Philippines’ election to the UNSC’s nonpermanent seat for the Asia-Pacific Group for 2027 to 2028 when he addressed the UN General Assembly’s special plenary session in March.
The Philippines, he said, has already proven itself to be an “independent, trusted partner, innovative pathfinder and committed peacemaker,” making it “ready to be part of the solution.”
Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro, meanwhile, extended the country’s congratulations to Kyrgyzstan, saying in a statement that the Philippines “respects the decision of the member states of the United Nations.”
Kyrgyzstan won on Wednesday in the fourth round of voting in the General Assembly when it obtained 142 votes out of 191 ballots cast, surpassing the required two-thirds majority. The Philippines received only 49 votes.
“We thank the international community for the support and goodwill extended to the Philippines throughout our candidacy,” Lazaro said.
She said the country’s bid was anchored on long-standing commitments to peace, dialogue, international law and cooperation among nations. “These remain principles that the Philippines will continue to uphold and advance in the global community.”
Previous terms
The Philippines previously served on the UNSC in 1957, 1963, 1980–1981 and 2004–2005.
Kyrgyzstan has never served on the Security Council before. It has called for a more inclusive body that better reflects underrepresented states amid geopolitical tensions, with President Sadyr Japarov urging broader participation in global decision-making.
The election, conducted during a meeting of the General Assembly and broadcast on UN Web TV, filled five nonpermanent seats on the 15-member Security Council.
The General Assembly also elected Austria, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe for two-year terms beginning on Jan. 1, 2027.
Under Article 23 of the UN Charter, nonpermanent members of the Security Council are elected by the General Assembly and must secure a two-thirds majority in a secret ballot.
