Still committed to the United Nations
Secretary Perfecto Yasay of the DFA himself has stated that the Philippines will remain a member of the United Nations. It remains committed to the world organization of which it is a founding member.
According to Yasay, President Duterte's tirade only comes out out of exasperation with the UN. But what exactly has the UN not done in the country, which Duterte claimed in his attack on it?
The UN has a continued presence in the country in the form of many organizations such as the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as the United Nations Development Program. All these organizations are currently active in projects that benefit many Filipinos.
During Yolanda, the UN was the first to mobilize aid into Tacloban. Being a disaster-prone country, we would do well with the ready help of the UN. Not only can they mobilize aid, they can also solicit in behalf of the country.
The World Health Organization, the medical arm of the UN, is very active in the country. It has approved the first ever dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, of which the country became one of the first recipients, benefiting over a million children most susceptible to dengue.
The UN is not perfect. It has its shortcomings, but more often than not, it is because of the resistance put up by countries being uncooperative in its efforts to make the world a better place.
To say that the UN has done nothing but criticize in the country is unfair, and shows a lack of information as to the many activities and projects it is developing. In fact, many have already commented on the President's threat to withdraw from the UN, saying it will do the country more harm than any perceived good.
Some have even said not to take the President's tirade seriously, as that is just how he expresses himself. But being the highest official of the land, I would assume that everything he says would bring everyone's attention, both here and abroad, which is something I believe the President has to understand. Whatever he says will have an impact, whether good or bad, to the country.
No one is questioning his dedication in fighting the scourge of illegal drugs, which have ruined countless lives and families throughout the years. But even wars have rules.
Being one of the original signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the country is obligated to uphold the rights of every individual. Which is why with the mounting number of "deaths under investigation,"which is how the PNP would rather label these deaths, there are those airing concern. There is that concern that there may be instances where the rights of certain persons have been denied, mostly with a bullet to the head.
Already we are hearing that not all deaths in the course of supposedly standard police operations were justified. There are hundreds of these deaths in the course of standard police operations, but thousands of "deaths under investigation" based on PNP data. This is the number causing concern from several sectors, including the UN.
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