Palace says President Duterte sending Canada trash back; gov’t agencies ordered to look for private vessel that will do this, Palace adds

(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte is sending back the trash shipped by Canada to the Philippines six years ago.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President  ordered  government agencies to look for a private company that would do this, after Canada missed the May 15 deadline for it to recall the garbage that languishes in a Tarlac landfill.

Canada’s failure to meet the deadline prompted the Philippines to recall its envoys in the North American country, with Panelo saying it was a warning the Philippines was ready to sever its ties with Ottawa.

Panelo said the Philippine government would shoulder the costs of returning the garbage.

Should Canada refuse to accept the trash, Panelo said the ship would leave it in Canada’s territorial waters.

Duterte had threatened to wage war against Canada over the garbage issue.

In response,Canada said it was willing to thresh out the issues involved in the recall of the trash, but the Palace slammed the statement as “vague.”