Duterte: Severing ties with Iceland may affect Filipino workers

President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday that cutting ties with Iceland for spearheading the call for a United Nations probe into his deadly war on drugs may affect the 2,000 Filipinos working in the Nordic country.

Duterte has yet to come up with a decision on the matter.

"I'm seriously considering because it might affect the relations between our citizens and the host country," he said in an interview over Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's television show.

"They might not like the way we behave towards them and so it would prompt them to take measures. I hope they do not have to do it because I will not also take it sitting down," he added.

Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said cutting diplomatic ties with Iceland would not result in the deportation of Filipino workers and not have an impact on trade relations.

The Philippines and Iceland established formal ties in February 1999 and have been partners in the areas of maritime, mining, renewable energy, medical services, fisheries, and geothermal energy.

Duterte clarified that the decision on whether to cut ties ultimately lies with the Office of the President after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on Tuesday that the Philippines was not severing relations with any country.

Last week, Iceland initiated the resolution passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council which agreed to set up a preliminary investigation into the human rights situation in the Philippines including the drug war.

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 18 countries in favor, 14 against (including China), with 15 abstentions (including Japan) at the 47-member forum in Geneva.

Duterte slammed Iceland anew, saying he was surprised by its “special interest” in the Philippines’ domestic policies.

"Iceland surprises me. It's always been a country complaining about extrajudicial killing and for a country who does not have a night, it's always like 4 o'clock in the afternoon all day long, wala silang problema," he said.

"Kung mauhaw ang tao, maraming ice, so they don't have a water problem. As far as their streets, it's safe because wala silang full night na darkness."

Duterte added: "Wait until the drug menace reaches their shore. That would be the time I will answer."

Malacañang had questioned the validity of the resolution and called it an affront to the country’s sovereignty. The Palace also said it was designed to embarrass the Philippines before the international community. — RSJ, GMA News