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Suspension of loan, grant deals over Iceland resolution an ‘outrage reaction’ — Palace


President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision last year to shun loan and aid from countries that backed an inquiry on the human rights situation in the Philippines was just an expression of outrage, his spokesperson said Thursday.

The Philippines has since lifted the ban but presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he has yet to ask Duterte why he changed his mind.

“You must remember that that was made because of what these countries did when they passed that resolution condemning the war on drugs in this country,” Panelo told reporters.

“And it was more of an outrage reaction, having already expressed our stand on that, perhaps there is now a reason to change it.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the lifting of the ban meant the Philippines has moved on from the issue.

“This is called moving on,” he tweeted on Thursday.

“After all, we defeated that resolution with the big help of our real friends like China, African states; Japan and a big group that she convinced to abstain.”

 

 

 

 

In July last year, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted to adopt a resolution calling for an investigation into the killings linked to Duterte's war on drugs. Eighteen countries backed the resolution introduced by Iceland.

In response, the Palace called the resolution maliciously partisan, an affront to the country’s sovereignty and said it was designed to embarrass the Philippines before the international community. — RSJ, GMA News

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