THE Philippines might sever ties with Iceland and 17 other countries that voted in favor of a resolution urging the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to launch a "comprehensive" review of the human rights situation in the Philippines amid President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, Malacañang said Monday, July 15.
"Maybe we should take a serious look on our relationship with them," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press conference Monday.
"Well, as [Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin Jr.] said, that is a consideration on the table,” he added.
On July 11, 18 member-states of the 47-man UNHRC voted in favor of the resolution submitted by Iceland, which called on UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet to prepare a comprehensive report on the Philippines' human rights situation amid the conduct of an anti-narcotics crackdown that led to the killings of thousands of alleged drug suspects.
The 18 countries that voted in favor of the resolution are Iceland, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Uruguay.
Panelo believed it was necessary to end diplomatic relations with these nations, which he said are intervening in domestic affairs in the Philippines.
"Hindi masama. Eh kung gumagawa sila ng mga deklarasyon na labag sa ating kasarinlan at pumapasok sila sa loob ng pamamaraan ng pamahalaan upang sirain ang sindikato ng droga sa ating bansa na sumisira sa halos buong pamilya ng ating bayan, eh baka kailangan na rin," he siad.
(There' nothing wrong with it. If they are making declarations that are an affront to our independence, and if they are meddling in the Philippines' way of handling the drug problem in the country that affects many families, perhaps, it's necessary [to cut ties with them].)
The Palace official, nevertheless, said that Duterte, with the help of Locsin, will have the final say on the possible cutting of ties with the 18 nations.
"In the ultimate analysis, he (Duterte) is the chief architect of foreign policy. Then, it's the call of the President," Panelo said.
"Hahayaan ko si Secretary Locsin at ang Pangulo na mag-desisyon diyan (I will let Secretary Locsin and the President to decide on that). In other words, they will have to factor in every circumstance that could lead to the cutting of ties," he added.
'UN reso not legally binding’
Following the adoption of the resolution, Bachelet is expected to produce a comprehensive report on the Philippines' human rights situation, which will be presented to the UNHRC's 44th session for extensive discussion.
The 44th session of the UNHRC is estimated to be held in June 2020.
Asked if the resolution is a legally-binding document, Panelo said: "Hindi. Paano naman naging legally binding 'yun (No. How can it be legally binding)? It's not."
Despite this, Panelo said the Philippine government is willing to respond to the UN rights council's queries with regard to Duterte's drug war.
"Dati naman tayong walang tinatago. Ano pang ipapakita natin? Gaya nga nang sinabi ko, lahat ng nangyayari diyan sa digmaan laban sa droga ay nakatala. Recorded lahat iyan eh. So all they have to do is ask us, not to prejudge us," he said.
(We have not been hiding anything ever since. What are we going to show us? Just like what I said, all that is happening in the war on illegal drugs have been recorded. Those have all been recorded. So all they have to do is ask us, not to prejudge us.)
"You know, they have to believe what this government tells them because this government doesn't lie. It behooves them to render respect to a sovereign state," he added.
Statistics released by the Philippine National Police in June showed that 6,600 suspected drug personalities have been killed in law enforcement operations from July 2016 to May 2019.
Panelo said the UNHRC should believe the PNP's recorded figure, as the police force is "not in the business of lying" but is "in the business of securing peace and order in this country."
He also made it clear that the government would not respond to questions that are meant to "embarass" Duterte's administration.
"It is discretionary on the part of a sovereign government to respond or not to respond to any questions relative to anything concerning the affair of this government. If we feel that the questions is legitimate, we will respond," he said.
"But if the question is designed to fish information that will be used by inquiring country to embarrass this government, certainly we will not oblige," he added. (SunStar Philippines)