By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
Malacañang said yesterday that the Philippines will not follow the decision of the United States to leave the United Nations Human Rights Council.
In a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Philippines will not leave the UNHRC even if the sentiments of the US reflect the statements of President Duterte against the UNHRC.
“We are also in the UN Human Rights Council. We’re not following suit if that is the question,” Roque said.
“Well, I guess the latest decision of the United States reflects a sentiment that the President himself has articulated. And apparently, we’re not alone in this perception that there is bias amongst human rights groups,” he added.
The Palace official refused to further comment on the decision of the US which he said was the decision of a sovereign country. “The President is very careful never to comment on sovereign decisions, in the same way he does not want other states commenting on domestic sovereign decisions. So we leave it at that,” Roque said.
“That’s the decision of the Americans, so be it. But the President has no reaction on what the Americans have decided to do,” he added.
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley had earlier announced that the US is withdrawing from the UNHRC.
The US has accused the UN of bias against US ally Israel and failure to hold human rights abusers accountable.
