Duterte lauds ratification of treaty banning nuclear weapons

President Rodrigo Duterte lauded the Philippine Senate for its unanimous ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

In a Monday statement, the Office of Presidential Protocol and Office of Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs said Duterte hailed the Senate’s ratification of the treaty as a “milestone, reinforcing the Philippines’ resolve together with the international community in pursuing a world free of nuclear weapons for peace, security, and the survival of all humanity.”

Duterte said, as a state party to the TPNW, the Philippines is faithful to the policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in the country.

The President added that the ratification was the Philippines’ principled commitment to work towards the complete elimination of weapons of mass destruction, citing the country’s earlier adoption of the Bangkok Treaty establishing the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ), the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty, and the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions.

“As I said during my address at the United Nations General Assembly General Debate, the Philippines joins hands with like-minded states in pushing for the complete prohibition of the development, possession, use, and transfer of nuclear weapons,” Duterte said.

Further, he underscored the need for states to commit themselves to prevent nuclear incidents amid “a more complex global security landscape.”

He also said it is in the interest of developing and developed countries alike to reduce, if not eliminate, nuclear risks and threats.

Duterte said nuclear proliferation is a real threat to global security and nuclear deterrence does not guarantee international peace and security.

“The only guarantee is the total elimination of nuclear weapons from the face of the earth. The TPNW provides this guarantee,” he said.

The Senate earlier adopted a resolution ratifying the TPNW.

With 23 votes, the Senate concurred with Senate Resolution 620 authored principally by Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.

Pimentel noted that the treaty further reinforces commitments against the use, threat of use, development, production, manufacture, acquisition, possession, stockpiling, transfer, stationing, or installation of nuclear weapons. — DVM, GMA News