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Imee Marcos cold towards Iceland, wants to cut diplomatic ties

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MANILA (UPDATE) - Sen. Imee Marcos wants the Philippines to immediately cut ties with Iceland.This, after the Nordic country filed a resolution seeking a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in the Philippines, which the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) adopted in a vote held in Geneva on Thursday. Marcos said the Philippines should “cut diplomatic ties with Iceland ASAP,” citing how developed nations should not impose on other sovereign countries.“A strong statement is in order that the values and political agenda of other countries, many of them developed countries like Iceland, cannot be imposed on an independent country like the Philippines,” Marcos said in a statement Saturday.On Thursday, 18 UNHRC member states, mostly European nations, voted to adopt Iceland&#x27;s resolution. A total of 14 voted no, while 15 abstained.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/11/19/un-rights-body-oks-investigation-on-ph-drug-killings-rights-situation">UN rights body OKs resolution seeking report on PH rights situation</a></li></ul>Marcos pointed out that &quot;not even half&quot; of the 47-member rights body voted for the resolution, echoing Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.&#x27;s response that &quot;the resolution was not universally adopted.&quot;Marcos also hit developed nations for allowing abortion, saying this showed their “distorted values and double-standard morality.”“They point a finger at the Philippines for alleged human rights violations, yet they justify the killing of defenseless, unborn children,” said Marcos, daughter of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos whose dictatorial regime was marked by killings, human rights violations, and the plunder of state coffers.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/30/19/us-court-oks-new-distribution-of-10-million-to-marcos-martial-law-victims">US court OKs new distribution of $10 million to Marcos martial law victims</a></li></ul>Marcos said other countries &quot;cannot presume to know better how we should enforce our own drug laws.&quot;“Due process may seem slow in investigating alleged human rights violations, but the rule of law prevails and has not been set aside,&quot; said the neophyte senator.Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of People&#x27;s Lawyers, scoffed at Marcos&#x27; proposal and said the country, for consistency, &quot;might as well&quot; cut relations with the other countries that voted in favor of Iceland&#x27;s resolution.Iceland&#x27;s resolution seeks a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in the Philippines, including alleged extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration&#x27;s drug war.It also calls on the Philippine government to work with the UN rights body&#x27;s High Commissioner, including facilitating country visits and refraining from intimidation or retaliation.It also expressed concern over alleged threats, intimidation, and attacks against UN special rapporteurs, including Vicki Tauli-Corpuz (indigenous peoples&#x27; rights) and Agnes Callamard (extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution).Immediately after the vote, Locsin scoffed at the rights body&#x27;s adoption of the resolution, warning &quot;there will be consequences.&quot; President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, said he wants to find out the purpose of the Iceland call.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/11/19/there-will-be-consequences-locsin-questions-validity-of-un-resolution-on-ph-rights">&#x27;There will be consequences&#x27;: Locsin questions validity of UN resolution on PH rights</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/11/19/duterte-on-un-human-rights-probe-tell-me-your-purpose-first">Duterte on UN human rights probe: Tell me your purpose first</a></li></ul>Rights groups have claimed that tens of thousands have died in the Philippine government&#x27;s drug war. Police have, meanwhile, said the figure is just at over <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/18/19/over-6000-killed-in-nearly-3-years-of-ph-drug-war-pnp">6,000</a> from the start of the Duterte administration in July 2016 until the end of May.Government has repeatedly denied involvement in summary killings, saying drug suspects slain in police operations had resisted arrest.

MANILA - Sen. Imee Marcos wants the Philippines to immediately cut ties with Iceland.

MANILA - Sen. Imee Marcos wants the Philippines to immediately cut ties with Iceland.