Philippines nominates Roque to be part of UN’s Int’l Law Commission

FILE PHOTO: This photo shows presidential spokesperson Harry Roque laughing as he walks with supporters towards the Commission on Elections to file his candidacy for senator in Manila City, Philippines, on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.  (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has nominated presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is a lawyer by profession, to become a part of a United Nations panel that develops and codifies international law.

Roque is listed among the nominees for the 34 members of the International Law Commission (ILC), as posted on its website. The Palace official also confirmed his nomination in a press briefing on Thursday.

“It’s something that could not have happened without the President’s say-so because it had to be an official nomination,” said Roque, who was a law professor at the University of the Philippines prior to his appointment as President Rodrigo Duterte’s mouthpiece.

“And of course, I am very grateful to the President and to [Foreign Affairs] Secretary [Teodoro] Locsin for the nomination,” he added.

There are eight seats to be filled in ILC by Asia-Pacific states. Other Asian countries that submitted nominations were Japan, China, Korea, and Thailand, among others.

Those who would be elected as members of ILC will have a five-year term beginning January 1, 2023.

Should he be elected into the ILC, Roque made clear it will not get in the way of his possible electoral bid in the 2022 national elections.

“The elected members of the International Law Commission do not hold any office, it is not a job. They will only meet twice a year; once in Geneva and once in New York. But it is not a job,” Roque said.

“There is no such salary, it is a voluntary undertaking of recognized experts in International Law. So that does not preclude, I guess, if and when I so decide, that does not preclude running for the Senate, it will not affect an office in the Senate. If elected, it will not affect any other office that I may occupy,” he continued.

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KGA