PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte does not plan to declare war against Canada over its trash shipment, Malacañang said on Monday, April 29.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified that Duterte had threatened to go to war against Canada because the President was "outraged" by Ottawa's apparent inaction to address the dumping of waste in the Philippines.
"[Anim] na taon mong tinapon 'yung basura sa bansa natin, hindi ka mag-sasalita ng ganoon (Canada dumped the trashed in our country six years ago, so it is natural for the President to issue such a statement). That's an expression of outrage, couched in a very strong term," the Palace official told a press coference.
"Hindi 'yun all-out war. Alam niyo, I don't think any country would want to trigger another world war because all of us will be annihilated. Nuclear eh. Magiging nuclear war. So ang nakikita ko diyan, mag-gigirian lang 'yun, and then palaging diplomatic negotiations pa rin ang makaka-resolve whatever conflict," he added.
(But there will not be an all-out war. I don't think any country would want to trigger another world war because all of us will be annilihated. It's going to be a nuclear war. So what I see is there will be a rift, but whatever conflict can always be resolved through diplomatic negotiations.)
On April 23, Duterte vehemently warned that he will declare war against Canada if it fails to take back within one week the tons of garbage shipped to the Philippines.
The President also said he would sail to Ottawa to dump their trash back.
Duterte's strong remarks had prompted the Canadian Embassy in Manila to say that Ottawa would act on his call to send back its waste shipped to the Philippines.
Asked if it was categorically possible for the President to wage war against Canada, Panelo said, "Wala (No, there will be no declaration of war)."
Panelo clarified that Duterte's "war" threat against Canada was just a "figure of speech" meant to highlight his administration's resolve to address the issue of dumping of waste in the Philippine soil.
The Palace official, however, stressed said that the Chief Executive was serious when the latter emphasized that he would make a move, if the North American country fails to heed his call.
"Figure of speech 'yun. Basta ibabalik lang 'yun. Kailangang ibalik na 'yun. Kunin na nila (Duterte's statement is just a figure of speech. The tons of garbage just need to be sent back to Canada. Canada should take it back)," Panelo said.
"I suppose they will respond. Nag-respond naman sila na, 'di ba? Ang sabi nila, 'Pag-usapan natin.' Ang sabi naman namin, 'Hindi na, anong pag-usapan? Ang tagal na, kunin niyo na iyan.' Kung hindi, ibalik namin iyan sa iyo. So hintayin natin ang response," he added.
(I suppose they will respond. They already responded, didn't they? They say, "We should negotiate." We say, "There's no need to hold a dialogue, just take it. It's been here for a long time." So let's wait for their response.)
From 2013 and 2014, a total of 103 container vans or 2,450 tons of trash were dumped by a Canadian firm in the Philippines.
The garbage from Canadian-based firm Chronic Plastics Incorporated was initially declared as "recyclable plastic materials," but the Philippine government had found that it contained mixed waste such as adult diapers, non-recyclable plastics, and other household trash.
Asked if the "one week" ultimatum is final, Panelo said: "Oo. 'Yun ang sinabi ni Presidente eh (Yes. That's what the President has said)."
"Bakit naman hindi magagawa? Eh kung may instruction siya. The instruction is kunin nila. Kung hindi niyo kukunin, kami ang mag-babalik sa inyo (Why would it not be possible? There was an instruction. The instruction is to take it back. If you will not get it back, we will send it back to you)," Panelo added. (SunStar Philippines)