MANILA — The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has called for the release of more political prisoners in Myanmar as the country marked its 79th Union Day.

In a statement, the DFA said that releasing additional political detainees would signal “further gestures of reconciliation” and the Myanmar military’s willingness to pursue inclusive political dialogue.

“In the spirit of genuine reconciliation, it is our fervent hope that this occasion be marked by the release of more political prisoners,” the DFA said.

The statement highlighted that thousands of prisoners have been freed since 2021, and the international community, including the Philippines, looks forward to more releases as a step toward inclusive national dialogue in line with the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus.

Myanmar celebrates Union Day on February 12 to mark the signing of the Panglong Agreement in 1947, which united leaders from various ethnic groups in establishing an independent nation.

This is the sixth Union Day since the military coup in February 2021, when the armed forces seized power from the elected government and detained leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, Burma (AAPP), 30,448 pro-democracy activists and civilians have been arrested since the coup. Of these, 22,797 remain detained, 129 face the death penalty, at least 7,777 were confirmed killed, and around 4,500 deaths are under verification.

In a separate statement, ASEAN said Union Day should be a “time to reflect on the spirit of unity, dialogue, and inclusiveness that inspired the nation’s early efforts at building a common future” and stressed the importance of peaceful cooperation and respect for diversity for long-term stability.