‘Duterte trusts Trudeau’s promise on Canada trash’

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is relying on “good faith” with regard to the promise of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resolve the issue on the trash sent to the Philippines by a Canadian firm in 2013.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte and Trudeau talked briefly about the issue before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Canada Summit last Tuesday. 

“The President said ‘Yes, before the start of the ASEAN-Canada dialogue, Prime Minister Trudeau approached me and told me the trash can be sent back to Canada,” Roque told radio station   dzMM yesterday.

“The President merely said it’s good because there is not much time to discuss details on how they will get back their trash,” he added. 

Asked whether the President has directed the environment department to fast-track the resolution of the issue, Roque said: “You know, the President relies on the principles of good faith. If Canada says they will take back their trash, the President is counting on Prime Minister Trudeau to do that.”

In 2013, Valenzuela-based company Chronic Plastics Inc. imported more than 50 containers with waste from Canada, worrying environment groups who fear that the shipment might contain toxic materials. 

More than half or 29 of the containers with trash were dumped in a landfill in Tarlac. 

Last Tuesday, Trudeau told reporters that it is now “theoretically possible” to bring back the rotting garbage to Canada.  

“Even though it originally came from Canada, we had legal barriers and restrictions that prevented us from being able to take it back. Those regulations and those impediments have now been addressed, so it is now theoretically possible to get it back,” he said. – With Janvic Mateo, Elizabeth Marcelo