UN anti-drug agency still wants Phl as partner

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has expressed hope that the Philippines will continue considering the anti-drug agency as an important partner even as the country exits from the International Criminal Court amid its “preliminary” examination” of the government’s war on drugs.

During recent discussions with Yury Fedotov, director general and executive director of the United Nations Office in Vienna, and the presentation of her credentials as permanent representative of the Philippines to the UN and other international organizations, Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad stressed the need for collaboration and cooperation with the UNODC.

She said combatting illegal drugs, trafficking in persons, criminality and corruption are major platform issues of President Duterte.

In response, Fedotov expressed hope that the Philippines will still consider the UNODC as an important partner.

Natividad relayed the President’s deep concern that the Philippines might turn into a narco-state due to the current drug situation and highlighted the violence and crime caused by the rampant use of methamphetamine in the country.

Natividad underscored the need for strong, decisive action in tackling the drug problem and stressed respect for national sovereignty in deciding the best course of action in addressing each country’s concerns.

Fedotov acknowledged that the increase in the cultivation and manufacture of drugs remains a huge problem for all countries, saying the UNODC can share tools in areas such as law enforcement support and drug abuse prevention.

The UNODC, based in Vienna, was established in 1997 with a mandate to assist member states in their efforts to fight illicit drugs, crime and terrorism. UNODC operates in all regions of the world through its field offices.

Duterte had earlier called on countries that ratified the Rome Statute to follow his example and withdraw from the treaty, stressing that the ICC would not have jurisdiction over him.

He said the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, was sponsored by the European Union which “is making up for its past sins and brutality.”

On Tuesday, the ICC expressed regret for the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute and encouraged the country to remain part of the ICC.