Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. speaks at the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Monday, June 17, 2019. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York)
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he “never considered for a second” severing diplomatic ties with Iceland, which earlier led the filing of a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) asking for a probe into the human rights situation in the Philippines.
“I never considered for a second cutting any ties over this small matter,” Locsin said over Twitter on Monday.
I never considered for a second cutting any ties over this small matter. https://t.co/TPxvrCSo7e
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) July 15, 2019
His tweet comes following calls to cut ties with the Nordic country after the UNHRC recently adopted a resolution that Iceland submitted — on behalf of more than two dozen countries.
The resolution sought to initiate a thorough review of the rights situation in the Philippines, particularly the killings linked to the Duterte administration’s drug war.
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Locsin also made the remark prior to a statement released by Malacañang which said that President Rodrigo Duterte was “seriously considering” cutting diplomatic relations with Iceland.
READ: Duterte eyes cutting ties with Iceland – Panelo
During its 41st session in Geneva last week, the UNHRC voted to adopt the Iceland-initiated resolution after it garnered 18 affirmative votes, 14 negative votes, and 15 abstentions.
READ: Greater scrutiny on PH killings gets UN rights council’s nod
The resolution formally requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to prepare a “comprehensive written report” on the human rights situation in the Philippines and present it at the UNHRC’s 44th regular session.
Right after the council passed the said resolution, the Philippines rejected it as Locsin, in a statement read in his behalf during the session, branded it as “politically partisan” and “one-sided.”
READ: PH rejects ‘politically partisan, one-sided’ Iceland-led resolution
The foreign affairs chief also warned of “far-reaching consequences” for countries who voted “to insult” the Philippines.
READ: Locsin warns of ‘far-reaching consequences’ for nations in favor of UN resolution
/atm