Rodrigo Duterte threatens war against Canada over trash

The Hill

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened "war” with Canada unless the nation takes back thousands of tons of trash shipped to Manila by a Canadian company, according to CNN Philippines.

"I'll give a warning to Canada maybe next week that they better pull that [trash] out," Duterte said Tuesday, according to CNN Philippines. "We'll declare war against them, we can handle them anyway."

The company, Chronic Plastics, reportedly shipped 103 containers holding 2,450 tons of trash between 2013 and 2014. While they were labeled as recyclable plastics, Philippine inspectors found them to not be recyclable. Last June, the Philippines's Office of the Ombudsman ruled the shipments illegal, finding Chronic Plastics shipped the cargo without import clearances, according to the report. The office also found probable cause to charge an official with the country's Department of Environment and Natural Resources with graft for mishandling the shipment.

Many of the containers remain at the port of Manila, according to the news outlet.

“I cannot understand why they are making us a dump site," Duterte said. He also threatened to dump the trash in front of the Canadian Embassy himself, saying the "garbage is coming home."

The Philippines have called on Canada to reclaim the dumped waste for years. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in 2017 that the country was “very much engaged in finding a solution,” according to CNN Philippines.

The comment is the leader's latest to raise eyebrows internationally. In March, he referred to women as “bitches” and “crazy” at a woman’s empowerment event and has reportedly ordered his military to shoot female rebels in the genitals.

Well...

...though I can guess Trump would probably side with Duterte over this. Ending our alliance with Canada.

As a Canadian and a Duerte fan, I’m torn on this. On one hand this is an extreme war declaration, but on the other I can see his point. But should a country be held accountable for the crimes or injustices a private company commits? I think not. But Trudeau is coming off this looking like a big hypocrite. His party (the Liberals) just imposed a carbon tax on us which is an environmental issue. This falls under that category so why wasn’t this already dealt with and prioritized?

‘...though I can guess Trump would probably side with Duterte over this. Ending our alliance with Canada’

@nintendoboy16:

Must everything be about Trump? And, no. The US is still our ally and we share one of the strongest bond’s in the world.

If I was playing as Canada I'd put my hockey stick halberdiers in the front line, have the maple syrup catapults on the high ground, moose cavalry and mounties at the flanks while the Celine Dion chantress gives leadership buffs to my army, and the Justin Beiber banshee debuffs the enemy.

@mandzilla: But where would you put the Trailer Park Boys?

@Sevenizz: Got to keep your elite units in reserve. ??

Oh no a jokester making a bad joke, what will Canada do.

This is clearly not meant to be taken seriously.

If Trudeau gets elected again, first order of business should be a near universal ban on single use plastics and plastic packaging. Also a disposal fee at the manufacturing level for any necessary plastics that are not easily replacable. Plastics are a curse, and so are fossil fuels but plastics are the worst thing that has happened to humans.

He doesn't come of as the joking type.

He once said he wanted to eat someone's liver. This guy is pretty crazy, unless you like crazy leaders...

Watch the video and tell me anyone even at the meeting took that comment serious :)

But it´s kinda crazy that a country´s leader does it but considering who it is, it´s not really a surprise.

In this instance Rodrigo Duterte is in the right. Canada should not use his country as a waste basket. Even a dictator can be right at least once.

I don't know if am blocked from viewing it, it has been removed, or I don't see it since some of the pages fails to load so I can't really comment on it.

You're right. But it is something the company that has done this should fix, not the Canadian government. Unless laws have to change in Canada to prevent this from happening again.

I'm a Filipino Btw. 99% politicians here are corrupt as f*ck.

Being a China sellout outweighed the goods President Duterte did (like giving public servants like teachers and police a higher salary grade and introducing another TelCo to the Philippines).

But I do understand why he did those things.

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On topic. That's prob not a bluff. But I don't know how can we wage war when our military weapons are WW2 Era or Vietnam War era. That's not a joke. Because, you know, instead of buying brand new arms, they buy the old arms cheaply and refurbish it and pockets the change.

Canada is going to need permission from the Queen before they can defend their country.

Just what we need, another meaningless war to prove who's ego is bigger.

Isn't it the same dude who basically told citizens to shoot anyone dealing drugs and they get a reward for it? He seems pretty hardcore. Not someone who would bluff willy nilly, especially if called out on it. Someone who likes to play with fire and burn bright.

Yeah. The same person.

Please, Canada, can you just assassinate the prick so we can be rid of him already?