President Rodrigo Duterte is seriously contemplating severing relations with Iceland following the latter's resolution that seeks to probe Philippines' human rights situation, including its campaign on illegal drugs.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo disclosed that Duterte personally told him that he was "seriously considering" cutting diplomatic ties with the Nordic island-country. In a statement released by Malacañang Monday night, Panelo said that he "just talked to the President an hour ago. He's seriously considering cutting ties with Iceland."
Panelo disclosed that the resolution endorsed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) "reeks of nauseating politics completely devoid of respect for the sovereignty of our country," and lashed out at the resolution, calling it "based on false information and unverified facts and figures... and intended to 'embarrass' the Philippines before the international community."
No love lost
The tirades against Iceland by Duterte, who is openly averse to criticism and leaders of foreign countries, serves to underscore further the animosity between the Philippines and the United Nations.
In reaction to Duterte's remarks, Icelandic Foreign Minister Gudlaugur Thor said in an official statement Friday that the country was happy that its resolution was approved by the UNHRC.
"The resolution is very modest, focusing on impartiality and cooperation with the U.N. to get clarity around the contested facts," adding that "I sincerely hope that this will eventually prompt Philippine authorities to work with the U.N."
OFWs' welfare
Iceland and the Philippines established diplomatic relations on February 24, 1999. Iceland has no consulate in the Philippines. The Philippines has no embassy in Iceland, but whose envoy in Japan is officially recognized in Manila. The Philippine's official diplomat to Norway has authority over Iceland.
It is not clear how many Filipinos, who form the biggest number of Asians - and the 6th largest foreign residents in Iceland - live in the country. In terms of Filipinos working there, the Philippines is likewise considering how the impact of ending Philippines-Iceland ties will affect the OFWs' welfare.
Ice eaters?
Duterte - known for his crude off-the-cuff remarks - earlier suggested that Iceland did not understand issues that the Philippines has with criminality and drugs, as its only problem is "ice." "That's your (Iceland) problem, you have too much ice, and there's no clear day or night there."
In a media conference last August 2016, Duterte - provoked by the UN's denunciation over extra-judicial killings in his administration's bloody campaign against drugs - threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the intergovernmental body.
On second thought
Meanwhile, despite the administration's disgust over Iceland's UN-approved resolution - and after hinting that the Philippines might withdraw from the UNHRC, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. himself admitted that the temptation to abandon the UN is strong but maintained that the country will not leave the human rights body as it must "remain true to the cause of human rights."
