Manila, May 14 -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the Philippines remains committed to peace and international order as it seeks to be elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Abalos made the remark at the opening of the 33rd Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ33) in Vienna, Austria on Monday, the DILG said in a news release on Tuesday.

"Once elected (at the UNSC), we will serve our duty with a deep dedication to a peaceful, just and equitable international order, that is key to the flourishing of each of our nation's aspirations for our peoples," said Abalos, who serves as the head of the Philippine...