MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte might have “forgotten momentarily” that he instructed all departments and state-run firms to halt negotiations and agreements on grants and loans from countries that have backed a U.N. investigation into his bloody war on drugs.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Monday cited the Chief Executive’s “lapse of memory” when he initially denied ordering the shunning of loans and grants.
Panelo said last week Duterte “has not issued any memorandum suspending loans and negotiations” involving 18 member-countries of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which in July approved Iceland’s resolution.
“A memo was issued by Executive Secretary (Salvador) Medialdea on the matter,” Panelo said in an interview with ABS CBN News Channel. “The question asked to me by the media was whether or not the President issued a memorandum.”
“When I asked (Duterte), he said: No, I did not. He might have forgotten momentarily.” Panelo explained.
He added: “when I asked him again, he said: Yes, I remember calling the Secretary about it,” added. “That’s more of lapse of memory by the President.”
The Palace spokesman has also clarified that only the United Kingdom from the 18 countries has an existing loan arrangement with the Philippines amounting to 21 million euros.
“Only UK (has an existing loan agreement with the Philippines) and that will not affect our economy,” Panelo said.
“This country (Philippines) is insulted by that kind of Iceland resolution and we cannot allow this country who is insulting us, a country who condemns allegedly our slaying of certain victims yet it allows abortion of unborn children up to less than 6 months old,” he added.
“There are other bilateral partners of us or other institutions that are offering the same grant… Other grants that are being offered are more on technical assistance so it will not affect this, the infrastructure of the government,” he further said.
The UNHRC adopted the Iceland resolution last July for an international investigation into the spate of killings and human rights violations in the country due to President Duterte’s “war on drugs.”
Eighteen countries have voted for the approval of the resolution during the 41st session of UNHRC in Geneva. Fourteen opposed it and 15 countries abstained.
The 18 countries who voted to adopt the Iceland-led resolution were Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Uruguay./PN
