Groups urge PHL to refrain from sending Myanmar poll observers

A LOCAL labor coalition on Monday urged the Philippine government to refrain from sending observers to Myanmar’s military junta-run elections, as recognizing “sham” polls would undermine the country’s upcoming 2026 chairmanship and expose businesses to reputational and legal risks.

The Nagkaisa Labor Coalition (NAGKAISA) said that the junta’s elections, running from Dec. 28 into late January 2026, are being held under repression, mass arrests, and civil conflict, and cannot be considered genuine democratic exercises.

“Not sending poll observers to a sham election is the correct, principled position,” Sonny G. Matula, NAGKAISA chairperson and Federation of Free Workers president, said in a statement.

“You cannot monitor democracy where there is none and sending observers is like camouflaging a sham election sponsored by a military junta. You cannot observe an election initiated by a military junta and held at gunpoint.”

Labor experts warned that Myanmar’s instability poses tangible risks for Philippine businesses, as companies operating in Myanmar or linked to regional supply chains must comply with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Article 33 on forced labor and human rights.

“Regional instability raises the cost of doing business: investors price in political risk across ASEAN, supply chains get disrupted, and confidence drops when rule of law and civilian governance look fragile,” Mr. Matula told BusinessWorld over Viber.

Mr. Matula emphasized that tolerating sham elections could normalize an undemocratic “Myanmar formula” in the region, which he said would be “bad for workers, bad for institutions, and bad for investment credibility.”

Josua T. Mata, secretary-general of SENTRO, added that companies operating in Myanmar or linked to regional supply chains “must comply with the ILO’s Article 33 sanctions, aimed at cutting off the economic lifelines of the junta,” noting that “failure to comply exposes companies to massive reputational damage.”

He said that the junta’s reliance on forced labor, human trafficking, and even large-scale cybercrime networks not only increases economic and compliance risks but also imposes direct financial harm on Filipinos, particularly through scams and fraudulent schemes funded by the military.

Both groups urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. as incoming ASEAN chair, to prevent member states from legitimizing Myanmar’s elections, noting concerns as Cambodia plans to send observers while Malaysia has criticized the polls.

Last month, the Department of Foreign Affairs stated that the Philippines remains ready to support a “Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned” political process but has yet to take a definitive stance on the legitimacy of the current polls. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking