MANILA, Philippines  (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) –  A group of United Nations human rights experts called on Friday for an international inquiry into the state of human rights in the Philippines because of the “staggering number” of unlawful killings by the security services and official attacks on people and institutions who defend human rights here.

Earlier, the Philippines withdrew its membership from the U.N.’s International Criminal Court after petitions were filed before it accusing  Duterte of crimes against humanity.

Now, Duterte wants to totally withdraw from the U.N. saying he will not be judged by white men.  (Perhaps unknownst to Duterte, the ICC judges are not all white.)

Most Filipinos think that the Philippines’ total withdrawal from the U.N. will not have a big impact on the country other than Philippine U.N. Ambssador Teddy Boy Locsin losing his job.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Shortly before Rodrigo Duterte left for Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum, Senator Risa Hontiveros dared the Philippine President to stand up to China’s interests and bring up the presence of Chinese vessles around Philippine-held Pag-asa Island.

He “must use the visit as an opportunity to display diplomatic bravery, using our victory at The Hague as a fundamental guidepost to defend Philippine sovereignty,” she said

(Many in the Opposition have accused Duterte of being a puppet of China.)

Not too long after Duterte arrived from Beijing, the news media reported that China has begun withdrawing its vessels from the West Philippine Sea.

The Adobo Chronicles reached out to Hontiveros for comment on the reported Chinese withdrawal and her only comment was:

”Ang China ay tuta ni Duterte” (China is a puppet of Duterte)

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.