MANILA, Philippines — Acting Myanmar President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing granted amnesty to a Filipino convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, moral turpitude is “an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standard of the community.”
Hlaing pardoned the unidentified Filipino during the visit of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro to Myanmar on Jan. 6, 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
Top Myanmar officials have recognized the role of the Philippines as the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) this year and expressed support for its chairship under the theme “Navigating our Future, Together.”
Lazaro, who was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as special envoy of the Asean Chairman on Myanmar, met with the senior leaders of the State Security and Peace Commission in Nay Pyi Taw.
Aside from Hlaing, she met with Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe of the State Security and Peace Commission.
They agreed to the convening of political/economic consultations to further strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation between Manila and Nay Pyi Taw.
Lazaro thanked Myanmar for helping the Philippine Embassy in Yangon in facilitating the repatriation of over 600 Filipinos who were victims of human trafficking, particularly those saved from scam hubs, the DFA said.
The Myanmar officials, on the other hand, expressed appreciation for the deployment of an 89-member Filipino military/humanitarian contingent and the financial assistance in response to the earthquake that devastated certain areas in March 2025.
Source: Myanmar pardons Filipino on PH Foreign Affairs chief’s visit
