Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Saturday he failed to secure a seat in the International Law Commission, following a months-long campaign that saw him shuttling between Manila and New York.
Roque thanked President Rodrigo Duterte, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN and his staff.
Human right advocates and the executive committee of UP Diliman, Roque's alma mater, had opposed his campaign to the ILC because of his close links with Duterte, now the subject of an investigation by the International Criminal Court for his five-year-long war on drugs.
"My candidature at the ILC was a challenging campaign throughout but we met it head on. Unfortunately, we did not succeed," Roque said in a statement to reporters.
"I wish the new members of the ILC success, especially as they tackle challenging issues such as rising sea levels and vaccine equality - issues which I will continue to advocate for as well," he said.
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