Palace: Duterte war threat vs Canada just ‘figure of speech;’ ultimatum stays

FILE PHOTO – A backhoe is used to unload garbage from one of the 26 containers of garbage from Canada taken to a landfill managed by Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. in Capas town in Tarlac province. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY METRO CLARK WASTE MANAGEMENT CORP.

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to wage war against Canada was mere “figure of speech,” Malacañang said on Monday, but his ultimatum for that country to take back its trash remains.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after the stinging remarks of President Rodrigo Duterte against Canada to take back its refuse now.

Panelo, however, said Duterte’s war threat was just a figure of speech.

” I am just repeating the words of Delfin Lorenzana yata. Yes. Yeah, tama, I agree with him. Kumbaga inaasar lang ‘yun. But by statement, we will send them back to your shores if you don’t get that,” he said in a Palace briefing.

Even Duterte’s threat to dump the garbage to Canada’s beach was also a figure of speech, Panelo said.

“Figure of speech din ‘yun. Basta ibabalik lang ‘yun. Kailangang ibalik na ‘yun. Kunin na nila,” he said.

In Pampanga last week, the President said he was giving Canada until this week to settle the garbage issue.

Is this an ultimatum? Panelo said, “yes.”

Panelo said Canada’s inaction on the trash issue could be “disruptive” to its diplomatic ties with the Philippines.

“Disruptive sabi ko, hindi ko sinabing mapuputol. Magiging irritant ‘yon,” he said.

The Palace official downplayed criticisms that Duterte’s war threat against Canada was irresponsible.

“No, bakit naman irresponsible eh apat na taon mong tinapon ‘yung basura sa bansa natin, hindi ka mag-sasalita ng ganoon? That’s an expression of outrage, couched in a very strong term,” he said./ac