MANILA - Human Rights Watch on Wednesday described as "outrageous and malicious" Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.'s remarks on an Iceland-backed resolution for the UN to investigate the Philippines' drug war.

Locsin said on Twitter on Tuesday that if Iceland's resolution gathered support, "that means bonuses for everyone who worked for it—from the drug cartels."

"This is an outrageous and malicious statement by the Philippines’ top diplomat. It shows the desperation of the Philippine government to frustrate accountability for its atrocious 'drug war'," HRW Philippines researcher Carlos Conde said.

• Philippines faces call for UN investigation into war on drugs killings

If the Iceland resolution wins that means bonuses for everyone who worked for it—from the drug cartels.

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) July 9, 2019

The UN resolution urged the Philippine government to prevent extrajudicial executions and formally called on the Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to investigate President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war.

Malacañang said the foreign countries should respect the Philippines’ sovereignty and independence as it asserted that the Duterte administration respects human rights.

The Geneva forum is set to vote on the resolution before ending its 3-week session on July 12. The Philippines is among its current 47 members.