Alvarez wants abolition of UN, creation of ‘United Nations of Asia’

For Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the United Nations should be abolished and a United Nations of Asia should be established instead to protect the interest of Asian nations, including the Philippines, from Western intervention.

Alvarez made the remark on Wednesday night as he commented on the US intelligence report naming President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs and pronouncements on revolutionary government and nationwide martial law as among "regional threats."

In a radio interview, Alvarez insisted that it was the US who actually poses threats to the entire world.

"Sila 'yung talagang gumagawa ng maraming kalokohan sa iba’t ibang bansa para lang mapasunod nila. Nanghihimasok sila, nakikialam sa independence at sovereignty of several nations in the world kaya nakakarma sila. Pati 'yung mga tao nila, hindi na nako-kontrol, nambabaril na," he said.

Alvarez said there is nothing to worry about the US intelligence report as the threat really comes from the US, not from Asia.

"In fact, kung ako nga ang tatanungin mo, imumungkahi ko na buwagin na 'yang United Nations kasi wala namang silbi 'yan e," he said.

"Ngayon, ang para sa akin, ang proposal ko, dito na lang tayo sa Asya – United Nations of Asia, ‘di ba? At mapangalagaan natin 'yung interest natin dito sa Asia. Hindi natin kailangan ng western nations para makialam sa atin dahil unang-una, 'yung ekonomiya naman nila ay pabagsak na nga. Umaasa na lang sila sa ekonomiya ng Asia," he added.

Alvarez noted that while the US and the Philippines have forged a strong diplomatic relationship, there is still a need to create an allegiance with other Asian nations to protect their interests.

"Kayang-kaya nating pangalagaan 'yan. Hindi natin kailangan ng Amerika diyan o kung ano pang mga western countries," he said.

Alvarez called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to act upon the interference of the US in the country's sovereignty.

"Mag-ano ng protesta 'yung DFA kasi, anong pakialam nila sa atin 'di ba? Sila nga itong maraming kalokohan sa iba’t ibang bansa. Nanghihimasok sila hindi naman sila kasali doon," he said.

"Talagang warning shot ito [report] para sa administrasyon, para sa ating bayan na talagang mag-alsa dito sa ginagawa nu'ng Amerika. Matagal na silang nakikialam sa atin. Dapat ngayon ipakita natin na hindi dapat nila pakialaman 'yung ating sovereignty," he added.

Sought for comment, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said the Palace respected Alvarez's position.

"'Yan po ay personal na opinyon ni Speaker Alvarez. Nirerespeto po natin 'yan," Roque said at a press briefing in Iloilo. —With a report from Virgil Lopez/KG, GMA News