TEODORO LOCSIN JR. 蜜桃工作室 PHOTO
President Duterte has directed the country鈥檚 next ambassador to the United Nations not to come to his defense in the wake of his acerbic response to the organization鈥檚 criticism of his bloody war on illegal drugs.
Philippine Permanent Representative-designate to the United Nations Teddy Locsin Jr.聽 on Monday recounted his one鈥攁nd so far only鈥攎eeting with Mr. Duterte sometime after his appointment, when he was briefed on his job.
鈥淚鈥檝e actually met him only once. It was a short conversation where he just told me what I鈥檓 gonna do. 鈥楧on鈥檛 defend me,鈥� he said. 鈥業 don鈥檛 need to be defended, OK, and just do it for your country,鈥欌�� Locsin said the President told him.
Locsin spoke with reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations鈥檚 71st anniversary celebration at a mall in Manila, where he was the keynote speaker.
Locsin said he was not scheduled for another meeting with the President as yet.
聽Just leave
Mr. Duterte had earlier lashed out at the international body, incensed at the concern UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Special Rapporteur on Summary Executions Agn茅s Callamard had expressed over the rising death toll in the local war on drugs.
Mr. Duterte had called the United Nations 鈥渟tupid鈥� and warned, 鈥淚f you are that rude, son of a bitch, then we鈥檒l just leave you.鈥�
The Philippines is among the founding members of the 71-year old organization which was created in 1945 in the wake of World War II to promote international cooperation and prevent future conflicts.
Asked if he saw any negative effects of the President鈥檚 fiery stance toward the United Nations, Locsin answered, 鈥淥f course not.鈥�
鈥淗ave you watched the United Nations? How they talk to each other there? But the thing is, the forum is there for people to talk instead of fight. And that鈥檚 where you thresh out your differences. I think that鈥檚 why they put it up,鈥� Locsin said.