Pangilinan taunts Duterte’s war threat against Canada

MANILA, Philippines— Opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan taunted President Rodrigo Duterte over his threat to declare war against Canada if they would not take its trash back.

“Gigiyerahin ang Canada dahil sa basura pero walang imik sa China sa pagpapalusot ng droga at pagsakop ng ating mga isla. Weh,” Pangilinan said in a Facebook post Tuesday night.

The senator’s remark came shortly after the President issued a stern warning against Canada for its continued failure to take back its garbage that was intercepted by the Bureau of Customs between 2013 and 2014 .

“I want a boat prepared. I’ll give a warning to Canada maybe next week that they better pull that thing out or I will set sail, doon sa Canada, ibuhos ko ‘yang basura nila doon,” he said.

“Awayin natin ang Canada. I will declare war against them. Kaya man natin ‘yan sila. Isauli ko talaga ‘yan. Ah, tingnan mo. Ikarga mo ‘yan doon sa ano sa barko, load it — the containers to a ship and advice Cana — and I will advise Canada that your garbage is on the way. Prepare a grand reception. Eat it if you want to,” the President added.

READ: Duterte to Canada: Take trash back or else I’ll declare war

The President made a similar statement in one debate in 2016 when he said he would ride a jet ski to the disputed Spratly islands occupied by China and plant the Philippine flag there.

But Malacañang said there was no need for the President to ride a jet ski to Scarborough or the Spratlys to assert Philippine sovereignty in the disputed area.

“It will only be a drama if he goes there. The more better action would be to file a diplomatic protest and then raise that as an issue in bilateral meetings between the two countries,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in Palace briefing last April 10.  /muf

READ: Palace: No need for Duterte to ride jet ski to Spratlys; diplomatic protest is better