MALACAÑANG on Thursday said political noise, particularly at the Senate, may have played a part in the Philippines’ failed bid to secure a nonpermanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.
The Philippines, after four rounds of voting, was not able to secure two-thirds of the majority of the 191 votes from the UN General Assembly and yielded to Kyrgyzstan, 49-142, in the voting that took place last June 3.
“All the political noise, all the political tensions affect us. And this is what the entire nation and the entire world sees. This is their impression of the Philippines,” Castro said in Filipino in a Palace briefing.
Last Wednesday, the “new majority” in the Senate led by Sherwin Gatchalian convened to pave the way for him to be elected as the new Senate president pro tempore and concurrent acting Senate president. Chairmanships of different committees were also decided.
The other faction led by Alan Peter Cayetano questioned its constitutionality of the takeover.
Castro said the disarray hurt the Philippines’ chance of again being part of the Security Council. “We’ve become negative because of these noises, most of which are from obstructionists,” she said.
The council has 15 members. Five of them occupy permanent seats, with veto power, while 10 are nonpermanent members.
Its primary role is to maintain international peace and security.
The Philippines last served on the council in 2004-2005.
In his address before the UN General Assembly last March, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. campaigned for the country’s bid for a nonpermanent seat in the council.
