President Duterte has directed the country’s next ambassador to the
United Nations not to come to his defense in the wake of his acerbic
response to the organization’s criticism of his bloody war on illegal
drugs.
Philippine Permanent Representative-designate to the United Nations
Teddy Locsin Jr. on Monday recounted his one—and so far only—meeting
with Mr. Duterte sometime after his appointment, when he was briefed on
his job.
“I’ve actually met him only once. It was a short conversation where
he just told me what I’m gonna do. ‘Don’t defend me,’ he said. ‘I don’t
need to be defended, OK, and just do it for your country,’” Locsin said
the President told him.
Locsin spoke with reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations’s
71st anniversary celebration at a mall in Manila, where he was the
keynote speaker.
Locsin said he was not scheduled for another meeting with the President as yet.
Just leave
Mr. Duterte had earlier lashed out at the international body,
incensed at the concern UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Special
Rapporteur on Summary Executions Agnés Callamard had expressed over the
rising death toll in the local war on drugs.
Mr. Duterte had called the United Nations “stupid” and warned, “If
you are that rude, son of a bitch, then we’ll just leave you.”
The Philippines is among the founding members of the 71-year old
organization which was created in 1945 in the wake of World War II to
promote international cooperation and prevent future conflicts.
Asked if he saw any negative effects of the President’s fiery stance
toward the United Nations, Locsin answered, “Of course not.”
“Have you watched the United Nations? How they talk to each other
there? But the thing is, the forum is there for people to talk instead
of fight. And that’s where you thresh out your differences. I think
that’s why they put it up,” Locsin said.
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