Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Duterte: Canada treats Philippines 'like a dumpsite'
Demonstrators hold placards and an image of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a protest at the Canadian Embassy in Makati, south of Manila, April 29. The protest led by the Ecowaste Coalition group demanded the return of Canada's overstaying waste in the country one week after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte issued an ultimatum to the Canadian government. EPA
By Jung Min-ho
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. / AP
By Jung Min-ho
Barely a week after vowing to “declare war” against Canada over its garbage illegally shipped to the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to dump it all on Canada's beaches.
According to
Monday, Duterte during a speech in Davao City on Sunday that Canada should not treat his country “like a dumpsite” and take all the trash back immediately.
“There are about 200 (garbage) containers there sent by Canada. We are being treated like a dumpsite,” Duterte said at the opening of the Palarong Pambansa, an annual sports event.
Recalling his previous threat to ship the trash back to Canada himself, he added, “I will tell them to load it on to ships next week. If you don't accept your garbage, I will dump it on your beautiful beaches.”
Last week, Duterte threatened to wage war against Canada if the Canadian government did not retrieve containers of garbage shipped to Manila in 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 for Canada and dump their garbage back there … Let's fight Canada. I will declare war against them,” he said.
The Canadian government repeatedly said it would try its best to resolve the issue, but has not promised anything specific.
Duterte made the request after the Korean government promised to take full responsibility for 6,500 tons of plastic garbage a private company here shipped to the Philippines falsely as “recyclable materials” last year.