The Philippines supports Timor-Leste’s bid to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an expansion of the ASEAN membership true to this year’s summit theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” a foreign affairs official said on Thursday.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will attend the ASEAN Summit 2025, which Malaysia will host on May 26-27.

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim will host and chair this year’s summit, which will be themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”

“We are supportive of Timor-Leste joining the ASEAN,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Assistant Secretary Dominic Xavier Imperial said in a Malacañang press briefing on Thursday.

Imperial said ASEAN members are following a “roadmap” for Timor-Leste’s accession to the regional bloc, which signals the group’s continued commitment to expanding the ASEAN membership.

“The Timor-Leste accession to the ASEAN is certainly on the agenda. So, kasama po siya (accession) sa magiging discussion ng leaders natin. And we are following, actually, a roadmap,” Imperial said.

At the same time, the DFA official responded to inquiries regarding the past controversy involving former Representative Arnie Teves and its connection to Timor-Leste, stating that the matter remains under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and falls outside the scope of ASEAN discussions.” | PND