Philippines recalls envoys after Canada misses deadline for garbage shipment

The EcoWaste Coalition hold a protest action to push for the long delayed re-export of Canadian garbage in Philippines to its origin following of President Rodrigo Duterte ultimatum held at near Canadian Embassy in Makati on 29 April 2019. Photo by Lito Borras/Rappler

MANILA, May 16, 2019, Rappler. The Philippines has recalled May 15, Wednesday, its ambassador and consuls to Canada after the Canadian government failed to begin shipping back its garbage which was dumped here back in 2013, reported the Rappler.

This was announced by Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr through a tweet on Thursday morning, May 16.

“At midnight last night, letters for the recall of our ambassador and consuls to Canada went out. They are expected here in a day or so,” he said.

“Canada missed the May 15 deadline. And we shall maintain a diminished diplomatic presence in Canada until its garbage is ship bound there,” he continued.

This is the week when Philippine ambassadors are scheduled to return to the country as they bring the votes of overseas voters to the Commission on Elections.

Among the ambassadors spotted at the Philippine International Convention Center on Wednesday, May 15, were Ambassador to Malaysia Charles Jose and Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial.

On Wednesday, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made no mention of any plans to recall diplomats in Canada when he spoke of updates about the shipping back of the smuggled trash.

“According to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), there might be a slight delay because of processing, documents are being prepared so it might take a little longer. The important thing is, they are taking it,” he had told reporters.

Panelo had then surmised that the shipment of the trash might begin in “one to two weeks.”

The Canadian government had committed to ship back the garbage from Philippine soil and to shoulder the costs of doing so.

Last April 23, Duterte threatened “war” against Canada if they did remove the container vans of garbage from the Philippines. He also threatened to send back the garbage himself.

With a report from Paterno Esmaquel II/Rappler.com

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