The Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) has urged the Philippines to keep Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing out of the 49th Asean Summit, warning that Malaysia's decision to welcome him as president risks undermining the bloc's position on the military regime.

The appeal was made during a meeting between an APHR delegation and Philippine Foreign Affairs Department undersecretary for policy Leo M Herrera-Lim in Manila ahead of the summit.

According to APHR, Herrera-Lim told the delegation that no official invitation had been extended to Min Aung Hlaing (above) and that neither Myanmar's head of government nor its ministers would attend the gathering.

APHR co-chairperson Charles Santiago welcomed the assurance but urged the Philippines, as Asean chair, to make its position public.