Gordon: Philippines should not withdraw from UNHRC

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon said Wednesday that the Philippines should not withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), after 18 of its 47 member-states voted in favor of a resolution seeking an investigation into the human rights situation in the country.

“I don’t think we should withdraw. I think it’s right that we should stay there,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

Gordon said instead of pulling out from the international body, the country should instead “accept the findings” of the council but show the government’s own statistics on human rights, including drug war deaths, and vow to take action on the issue.

“Every criticism should be listened to, whether they are valid or invalid, because sometimes they have something to say,” he added.

On Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte is studying whether the Philippines should withdraw from the UNHRC after it adopted on July 11 a resolution led by Iceland calling for a probe into the human rights situation in the Philippines.

READ: Greater scrutiny on PH killings gets UN rights council’s nod

READ: Duterte mulling Philippines’ withdrawal from UN rights body

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., however, said otherwise, saying the country will not cut ties either with UNHRC or Iceland. /muf