Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

The empty Security Council Chamber is pictured at UN headquarters in New York City on December 20, 2023. A UN Security Council vote on a much-delayed resolution calling for a pause to the Israel-Hamas war was postponed again on Wednesday, the council's presidency said, as members wrangled over wording. Charly Triballeau, AFP/file

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773014342442security-council-chamber-12212023.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The empty Security Council Chamber is pictured at UN headquarters in New York City on December 20, 2023. A UN Security Council vote on a much-delayed resolution calling for a pause to the Israel-Hamas war was postponed again on Wednesday, the council&#x27;s presidency said, as members wrangled over wording. Charly Triballeau, AFP/file<br/></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>NEW YORK — Securing a seat in the United Nations Security Council will have a major impact for the Philippines amid issues in the West Philippines Sea, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel &quot;Babe&quot; Romualdez said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/2/melania-trump-to-chair-un-security-council-as-iran-war-rages-1251">Melania Trump to chair UN Security Council as Iran war rages</a></div><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is in New York in the United States for his working visit, where he is set to attend a reception on the Philippine’s bid for a non-permanent seat in the global security council, tasked to maintain international peace and security.</p><p>“It’s very important because of the challenges that we are facing in the West Philippine Sea,” Romualdez said in an ambush interview with the media following the arrival of Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza-Araneta Marcos in New York Sunday, March 8 (local time).</p><p>The Philippines is competing against Kyrgyzstan for the Asia-Pacific regional spot in the council. A two-thirds vote from the General Assembly is required to secure the seat.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/9/marcos-jr-arrives-in-new-york-for-a-working-visit-0725">Marcos Jr. arrives in New York for a working visit</a></div><p>“I wouldn’t want to say it’s a tight race, but obviously we have to campaign for it,” Romualdez noted.</p><p>The envoy further underscored the vital role of securing a seat in the council, when asked to comment on Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s remark, who earlier asked why the Philippines is bothering with seeking a seat in the United Nations Security Council, saying the country might not have anything to gain from it.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/6/marcoleta-what-will-ph-gain-from-seeking-seat-on-un-security-council-1428">Marcoleta: What will PH gain from seeking seat on UN Security Council?</a></div><p>“Everyone has his own interpretation of this, but to us, especially for the world having a seat in the Security Council, even if it’s a temporary seat, meaning it’s not a permanent seat, it still makes an impact for us precisely because of the conflicts, or rather the challenges that we face,” Romualdez said.</p><p>Malacañang, meanwhile, criticized Marcoleta’s comment as it emphasized the seat’s role in advancing not only the country’s interests but also those of the region.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/09/21/22/marcos-seeks-un-support-for-ph-in-security-council">Marcos seeks UN support of PH candidature to Security Council</a></div><p>“Hindi lamang po ito sa bansa natin. Hindi lang interest po ng bansa natin. Interest din po ito ng ating rehiyon. At hindi lamang po ‘yan, ito po ay makakapag-angat ng ating kredibilidad upang mapakita natin na tayo’y lider para sa kapayapaan,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in an ambush interview on the sidelines of Marcos’ New York visit.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT IS UN SECURITY COUNCIL?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Under the UN Charter, the Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.</p><p>The council has 15 members – five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms – and takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression.</p><p>The five permanent members are China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States – all have the right to veto decisions.</p><p>Its resolutions are binding on all countries in the UN, which means all member states are obligated to comply with its decisions.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/9/19/us-again-vetoes-un-security-council-gaza-ceasefire-call-0809">US again vetoes UN Security Council Gaza ceasefire call</a></div><p>The body also calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement.</p><p>“In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security,” the UNSC noted.</p><p>The council added that a state which is a member of the United Nations but not of the Security Council may participate, without a vote, in its discussions “when it considers that country&#x27;s interests are affected”. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x2W2yrucftI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D8wFxqfHmnk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Securing a seat in the United Nations Security Council will have a major impact for the Philippines amid issues in the West Philippines Sea, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez said.</p>

Securing a seat in the United Nations Security Council will have a major impact for the Philippines amid issues in the West Philippines Sea, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez said.

UN Security Council seat important for PH amid challenges in West PH Sea–envoy

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UN Security Council seat important for PH amid challenges in West PH Sea–envoy

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 09, 2026 08:01 AM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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Jose Manuel ‘Babe’ Romualdez

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