‘Outside interference acceptable at times’

MANILA, Philippines — Outside interference in internal affairs of a state deemed to be committing wrongs that “exceed the bounds of humanity” is acceptable, the country’s top diplomat said yesterday.

“Much as states dislike outside interference in their internal affairs, when their actions exceed the bounds of plain humanity, interference is a duty of humanity,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a video message for the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

“But a clear case has to be made in a world where lying has achieved a level of perfection far exceeding the capacity for truth,” Locsin said.

He said the Philippines has renewed its “commitment to end the scourge of war, uphold justice and human rights, keep the peace and stay secure, and in all things act with decency which requires no explanation.”

Locsin also said the Philippines had voted “no” to UN resolutions that it deemed would allow excessive foreign meddling in other countries’ internal affairs. He said the country would never allow itself to be used by other countries to sow chaos.

The Philippines voted “no” to resolutions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on human rights situations in Yemen, Myanmar, Venezuela, Burundi and Syria during the 42nd session in Geneva, Switzerland in September 2019.

Last year, the Philippines branded as “unacceptable” and a form of interference in the country’s domestic affairs a proposed US travel ban on officials deemed responsible for the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima.

The European Parliament called for a review of tariff incentives extended to the Philippines, over alleged human rights abuses and the “deteriorating level” of press freedom in the country.

Malacañang on Friday dared European lawmakers to make good their threat to push for the revocation of the tariff-free status for some Philippine exports.

In a tweet, Locsin said he would engage only with “stable and responsible ones” in the European Union. “There are quite a few of those. I don’t go for petulance,” he said.