DFA: Philippines ties unaffected by Robredo's remark on drug war

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Philippines' relations with its allied countries remain "very good" despite recent remarks by Vice President Leni Robredo calling out the Duterte administration's war on dr ugs.

Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Robredo's video message enumerating the supposed human rights violations committed in President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs did not affect the Philippines' relations with the international community.

"Our relations with all countries are still very good. In fact, I haven’t seen any change in that," Manalo said in a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

Robredo, in a video message that was played at a side event of a United Nations conference, stressed that Filipinos are becoming “hopeless and helpless” since the President's drug war was launched in July last year.

The Vice President claimed that the drugrelated deaths are “summary executions” that need international scrutiny. Reports said about 8,000 individuals have been killed in the fight against narcotics trade.

Contradicting Manalo, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, who also joined the briefing, believed that Robredo's pronouncement regarding the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug personalities makes it difficult to “sell the Philippines” to other count r i es.

She even recounted that whenever she goes out of the country, she is always asked if summary executions in the country are widespread. She added that she could not do anything but respond by saying, “It’s safe in the Philippines and I would like you to go to the Philippines and see for yourself.”

While she has “great respect” for the Vice President, Teo said the country’s second highest official should tone down so as not to affect the number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines.

“I have a great respect for VP Leni. Philippines is now becoming a destination, alternate destination in Asia and the Europe. But with such statement, it’s really hard to sell the Philippines,” Teo said.

“So I hope, we could, if possible – it’s not only referred to Leni, VP Leni, but also to the media – please somehow tone down [statements about] extrajudicial killing,” she added.

Duterte’s ally, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, said Robredo’s remark against the current administration constitutes “betrayal of public trust,”which could be one of the grounds for impeachment.

(Ruth Abbey Gita/ SunStar Philippines)