Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 10) – The Philippines raised before an international body the need to protect civilians in conflict areas amid the ongoing battle between Russia and Ukraine.
Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya, the Philippine Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), made the appeal during the body’s 99th Session of the Executive Council on Tuesday at The Hague, Netherlands.
“As we monitor recent grim developments, we need to remain vigilant and ensure that civilians are unharmed and protected, and international humanitarian law observed. We should further ensure that no chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction are ever used,” Malaya said during his speech.
Malaya reiterated the call of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., for the international community “to reaffirm by more than words its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
“Let us keep in mind what brought us together as signatories of the Chemical Weapons Convention and other disarmament treaties, and work earnestly to realize the noble aspiration best expressed by the Greek Aeschylus – to ‘tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world’,” added Malaya.
The Philippines is one of the 193 signatories to the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (CPCW), which took effect in 1997. It is one of the 41 member states elected to the OPCW executive council, which is responsible for assuring the effective implementation of the CPCW.
The Philippines’ appeal came after White House spokesperson Jen Psaki warned that Moscow can use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine amid their ongoing conflict.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (UN OHCHR) latest data on March 8, a total of 516 civilians have died and 908 have been injured since Russia’s armed attack against Ukraine started.
The UN OHCHR stated in its report that most of the civilian casualties died due to the use of explosive weapons. The agency also believed the casualty figures are higher than what they gathered.
As of Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported 90 Filipinos in Ukraine have been repatriated and 169 others have been evacuated out of the strife-torn country. Around 60 more Filipino will arrive in Manila on Thursday, the DFA added.
