Malacañang on Thursday said domestic political tensions may have contributed to the Philippines’ unsuccessful bid for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the remark when asked whether the country’s recent political developments could have influenced the outcome of the vote despite President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s efforts to campaign for the Philippines’ candidacy.

“Yes, lahat ng political noise, lahat ng political tensions nakakaapekto ito at ito ang nakikita ng buong bayan at buong mundo sa impresyon dito sa Pilipinas (Yes, all political noise and political tensions affect this, and these are what the entire nation and the world see as their impression of the Philippines),” Castro said.

She said the negative perception created by political disputes and controversies may have affected how other countries viewed the Philippines.

“So, nagiging negatibo dahil sa mga ingay na ito na karamihan naman ay mga obstructionist katulad ng pag-describe ng Pangulo (It becomes negative because of these noises, many of which are obstructionist, as described by the President),” she added.

The Philippines failed to secure a non-permanent seat on the UNSC for the 2027–2028 term, losing to Kyrgyzstan during elections at the UN General Assembly.

Kyrgyzstan won the lone Asia-Pacific seat in the fourth round of voting with 142 votes against the Philippines’ 49.

The Marcos administration actively campaigned for the bid as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s role in multilateral diplomacy and international decision-making.

The UN Security Council is one of the most influential bodies in the international community, tasked with maintaining global peace and security. A non-permanent seat is often viewed as an opportunity for countries to expand their diplomatic influence and help shape international policy. (PNA)