Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (Twitter image)
Dahil sa basura inalis ang Ambassador, consuls
Opinion
By Ted Alcuitas
Instead of the Philippine Marines invading the Port of Vancouver to start ‘Duterte’s War’ today, May 15, the Philippines has recalled the ambassador to Canada and other diplomatic officials after the Canadian government missed the May 15 deadline set by the Duterte administration to take its trash back.
Here is POLITIKO’s report:
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr. announced the recall in a series of tweets posted Thursday (May 16).
“At midnight last night, letters for the recall of our ambassador and consuls to Canada went out. They are expected to be here in a day or so. Canada missed the May 15 deadline. And we shall maintain a diminished diplomatic presence in Canada until its garbage is ship bound there,” he said.
In another tweet which has since been deleted, Locsin said: “@DFAPHL To our posts in Canada: You have your orders. You are recalled. Get the next flight out.”
President Rodrigo Duterte had given the Canadian government until May 15 to retrieve the trash shipment that arrived in the country six years ago.
Duterte warned to stage war against Canada if it does not take back its trash. He followed it up with a threat to send the garbage back to Canada and dump the shipment on its beaches.
Locsin said the Philippine government’s statement that it will consider a two- to three-week delay does not extend the May 15 deadline.
“Our diplomatic presence in Canada shall be de minimis. At the Japanese enthronement ceremony, DOF informed me that Canada did not show up at a meeting with Customs and that was the trigger,” he tweeted.
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. Canada missed the May 15 deadline. And we shall maintain a diminished diplomatic presence in Canada until its garbage is ship bound there.
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That the government may consider a 2 to 3 week delay DOES NOT EXTEND THE DEADLINE. Our diplomatic presence in Canada shall be de minimis. At the Japanese enthronement ceremony, DOF informed me that Canada did not show up at a meeting with Customs and that was the trigger.