Don’t defend me before United Nations, Locsin says President told him

TEODORO LOCSIN JR. INQUIRER PHOTO

President Duterte has directed the country’s next ambassador to the United Nations not to come to his defense in the wake of his acerbic response to the organization’s criticism of his bloody war on illegal drugs.

Philippine Permanent Representative-designate to the United Nations Teddy Locsin Jr.  on Monday recounted his one—and so far only—meeting with Mr. Duterte sometime after his appointment, when he was briefed on his job.

“I’ve actually met him only once. It was a short conversation where he just told me what I’m gonna do. ‘Don’t defend me,’ he said. ‘I don’t need to be defended, OK, and just do it for your country,’” Locsin said the President told him.

Locsin spoke with reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations’s 71st anniversary celebration at a mall in Manila, where he was the keynote speaker.

Locsin said he was not scheduled for another meeting with the President as yet.

 Just leave

Mr. Duterte had earlier lashed out at the international body, incensed at the concern UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Special Rapporteur on Summary Executions Agnés Callamard had expressed over the rising death toll in the local war on drugs.

Mr. Duterte had called the United Nations “stupid” and warned, “If you are that rude, son of a bitch, then we’ll just leave you.”

The Philippines is among the founding members of the 71-year old organization which was created in 1945 in the wake of World War II to promote international cooperation and prevent future conflicts.

Asked if he saw any negative effects of the President’s fiery stance toward the United Nations, Locsin answered, “Of course not.”

“Have you watched the United Nations? How they talk to each other there? But the thing is, the forum is there for people to talk instead of fight. And that’s where you thresh out your differences. I think that’s why they put it up,” Locsin said.