Senator Risa Hontiveros on Sunday condemned the actions being carried out by the United States (US) against Venezuela.
Some experts pointed out that the US is likely to have violated the terms of the United Nations Charter, which was signed in October 1945 and designed to prevent another conflict on the scale of the Second World War.
A central provision of this agreement — known as Article 2(4) — stipulates that states must refrain from using military force against other countries and respect their sovereignty.
In a statement, Hontiveros said the recent unprovoked strike by the US against Venezuela "constitutes a grave violation of international law."
"Not only has this action jeopardized the lives of Venezuelans, who have long endured the oppression of their own dictator; it has also placed other nations at risk of invasion and violence from foreign powers that may wish to abuse their might for their own interests," she continued.
"No country should unilaterally attack an independent state. No country should be allowed to 'run' a sovereign nation. This principle must hold true for the United States and for every nation that still values a rules-based international order," she added.
American forces seized Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife early Saturday morning, Jan. 3, and brought the pair to the US to face what President Donald Trump has described as a "narco-terrorism" trial.
Trump added that the US will temporarily "run" Venezuela until a new government is installed.
Hontiveros also lamented the far-reaching consequences of the US action for the entire world, particularly for the Philippines, whose territories and resources are increasingly vulnerable to China's expansive claims and ambitions.
"In these turbulent times, I urge all leaders to resist a return to a world order ruled by brute force. We must collectively strive for peace and fair play," the senator concluded.
