Duterte’s war threat to Canada over trash, just a figure of speech – Palace

Malacañang on Monday clarified that Philippines will not go to war against Canada over the tons of garbage shipped to the country several years ago.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte warned Canada that “they better pull-out their garbage until next week or he will set sail to send it back to them.”

During the situation briefing in Pampanga Provincial Capitol after the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that jolted the province, Duterte said that he is ready to declare war against Canada once they refuse to take back those containers that he will load to a ship, and will “advise Canada that your garbage is on the way.”

However, in a press briefing earlier today, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said, the president’s threat of war to Canada over the trash was just a figure of speech.

“I’m just repeating the words of Delfin Lorenzana yata, yes. Tama, I agree. Figure of kumbaga. Naasar lang iyon,” Panelo said.

Panelo further explained that the president only expressed outrage over the tons of trash that were shipped and dumped in the country six years ago.

“Hindi, kasi ang tagal na iyon, four years na iyon ano. Four years na hindi nila ginagalaw. Buti pa iyong mga Koreano yata, nawala na, naibalik na. Parang pinabayaan na lang nila dito eh.”