Duterte seriously considering cutting PH, Iceland ties – Palace

July 15, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte is seriously considering to sever ties with Iceland, Malacanang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he talked to the President regarding the matter.

"He (Duterte) is seriously considering cutting diplomatic relations with Iceland," said Panelo, who is also the chief presidential legal counsel.

Iceland pushed for the adoption of the resolution before the United Nations Human Rights Council calling for an investigation on the alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines due to drug war of the Duterte administration.

Eighteen countries supported Iceland.

"The adopted Iceland resolution is grotesquely one-sided, outrageously narrow, and maliciously partisan. It reeks of nauseating politics completely devoid of respect for the sovereignty of our country. It is bereft of the gruesome realities of the drug menace in the country," Panelo said.

In a separate statement, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea urged the diplomatic community to "listen more to the Filipino people, rather than let a few political organizations mislead your capitals as to the real state of human rights in our country." Celerina Monte/DMS