Recall of labor attaché eyed over garbage spat

MANILA, Philippines — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III is eyeing the possibility of recalling the country’s labor attaché in Canada as the spat over garbage with the North American nation drags on.

In an interview with radio dzBB, Bello said in Filipino he would make a decision on the matter if the diplomatic row takes a turn for the worse with Ottawa’s failure to meet the May 15 deadline set by President Duterte for the re-shipping of the 2,000 tons of garbage to Canada.

“But this is being studied thoroughly,” he added. The labor attaché heads the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Toronto and Vancouver.

Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs recalled the country’s ambassador and consuls to Canada.

President Duterte had warned that he was willing to cut diplomatic ties or even wage war with Canada if it fails or refuses to take back its garbage.

Reports showed over 100 containers filled with household waste arrived in Manila between 2013 and 2014.