MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has insisted that he was serious when he threatened to wage war against Canada over its smuggled garbage in the Philippines, even as his official mouthpiece tagged the remark as a mere “figure of speech.”
Duterte issued the statement Thursday, a week after Canada took back its trash that languished in the country for six years.
“It’s a matter of respect. Kung gawain mo lang akong basurahan dito, p***** i**. At akala nila nagbibiro ako. Sabi ko sa kanila, isauli ko ‘yan, ‘pag hindi tayo nagkaintindihan I will declare war,” Duterte said during a meeting with Muslim Filipinos to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in his hometown Davao City.
“Akala naman siguro nitong – well sa media. Braggadocio. Hambog ba. Hindi man nila ako kilala,” he added.
On April 23, Duterte threatened to declare war against Canada if it does not take out its trash from the Philippines, which was sent to the country in 2013.
The tough-talking President even imposed an ultimatum for the Canadian government to repatriate its refuse.
“I want a boat prepared. I’ll give a warning to Canada maybe next week that they better pull that thing out or I will set sail, doon sa Canada, ibuhos ko ‘yang basura nila doon,” Duterte said.
However, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte’s chilling threat to wage war against Canada was just a “figure of speech.”
“Kumbaga inaasar lang (niya) ‘yun. But by statement, we will send them back to your shores if you don’t get that,” Panelo said, adding that even the President’s threat to dump the garbage to Canada’s beach himself was also a figure of speech.
“Figure of speech din ‘yun. Basta ibabalik lang ‘yun. Kailangang ibalik na ‘yun. Kunin na nila,” he added.
READ: Duterte to Canada: Take trash back or else I’ll declare war
READ: Palace: Duterte war threat vs Canada just ‘figure of speech;’ ultimatum stays
Following Duterte’s protest, Malacañang also barred government officials from traveling to Canada.
The 69 container vans loaded with garbage from Canada were finally shipped back to Ottawa last May 30, more than a month after Duterte issued his war threat.
READ: After 6 years, Canada trash out of Subic port on Friday
(Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)