Trade relations with Iceland won’t be affected, Palace says

July 16, 2019

Malacanang said on Tuesday even if the Philippines would cut its diplomatic ties with Iceland, trade or economic relations of the two countries would continue as long as they are beneficial for both of them.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated  President Rodrigo Duterte was "seriously considering" to cut the diplomatic relationship of the Philippines with Iceland after the latter initiated a resolution to probe into the alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the country.

"Well, assuming that there is or there are (economic relations between the two countries), for as long as it's beneficial to us, then we will proceed with it. And I'm sure the agreement would be beneficial to both countries because no country will enter into an agreement that is not beneficial to it," he said.

He said there were about 2,000 Filipinos in Iceland.

Panelo said Duterte was wondering why Iceland was making such posturing against the Philippines.

"Until now, he is in wonderment why Iceland is doing that. He can only speculate… or the two of us can only speculate that maybe some activists either from this country or elsewhere are feeding Iceland with the wrong information. And Iceland is so naïve to accept everything that it hears or receives," he said.

Duterte has become irked with Iceland following the adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council of a resolution against the Philippines. Celerina Monte/DMS