Manila: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stated that the United Nations (UN) is expected to dismiss the submission by a Japanese non-government organization urging the UN to advocate for the provisional release of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to Philippines News Agency, the International Career Support Association (ICSA), a Japanese NGO registered in Nara Prefecture, earlier this year presented a statement to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) alleging that Duterte's surrender to the ICC was driven by political motives. The DFA responded by labeling these allegations as 'baseless', clarifying that the UNHRC's circulation of such statements is merely procedural.

"The United Nations routinely receives such statements and circulates these as a matter of procedure, without comments or any other actions," the DFA explained. The department expressed confidence that neither the Human Rights Council (HRC) nor the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) would act on the ICSA's claims, noting the NGO's history of submitting similar unfounded statements to the UN without prompting corresponding actions.

The DFA emphasized that past records show the actions taken by the HRC and OHCHR, along with statements from various states, contradict the ICSA's claims. "What the records show are the UN and its member states calling for accountability," the DFA stated.

The ICSA holds a Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), enabling it to attend meetings and engage in UN discussions. Its activities span fields such as agriculture, biodiversity, development, education, human rights, labor, and science and technology. The NGO's funding is derived from membership fees, consulting or research service fees, product sales, business services, and domestic donations and grants.