MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos on Saturday said the Philippines should cut ties with Iceland for initiating a resolution calling on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to look into the human-rights situation in the country.

“Para sa akin, agad-agad na natin putulin kaagad yung diplomatic ties with Iceland. Ano naman ang pakialam nila sa atin? The neophyte senator said in an interview over radio station DWIZ.

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(For me, we should immediately cut our diplomatic ties with Iceland. What do they care?)

The Iceland-backed resolution was adopted after garnering 18 affirmative votes, 14 negative votes and 15 abstain votes.

Both the Philippines and China voted for the negative.

READ: Greater scrutiny on PH killings gets UN rights council’s nod

“Wala naman sila dito sa Pilipinas, hindi naman sila nagsisi-punta rito, wala nga silang makuhang ebidensya. Puro sa mga Pilipino na nakikikuntsaba sa kanila sa New York, eh bakit biglang marami silang alam?” Marcos went on saying.

(They’re not in the Philippines, they are not even visiting here, they did not get any evidence. Purely, it’s the Filipinos conniving with them in New York, why suddenly it seems they know a lot?)

“Masyadong panghihimasok yan [They are intruding]. They’re passing judgment on something they don’t know.”

Marcos added that Iceland has “totally different” cultures, such as legalization of abortion and divorce, which would be unacceptable in the Philippines.

“Eh ba’t ngayon, pipilitin tayo na tanggapin yung gusto nila [Now why they are forcing to us what they want]?” Marcos asked.

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When asked if the Philippines should also cut ties with the 18 countries that voted to adopt the resolution, Marcos answered: “Well sa akin, yung sa Iceland muna, para ipakita natin na naninindigan tayo na mayroon tayong soberanya, may sarili tayong batas, yung lahat ng ating mga korte, operational naman.”

(For me, it should be Iceland for the meantime, in order to show to them that we stand up for something like our sovereignty, that we have our own laws, all of our courts, all of which are operational.) /jpv

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