Joma calls for AFP-NPA alliance to protect West PH Sea
By Xave Gregorio
On Jul 6, 2018
http://politics.com.ph/wala-nang-lusot-medialdea-finally-orders-devanadera-to-suspend-4-erc-commissioners/

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) should link arms and protect the West Philippine Sea from China’s incursions, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Ma. Sison said.

“The NPA and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, ‘yung matitinong officers, ay pwedeng ka-unite ng NPA on this matter. They can stand together for national sovereignty,” Sison said Thursday (July 4) in a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

Sison, now chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, claimed that some AFP officers are concerned that President Rodrigo Duterte is a “traitor” who is “selling out” what has been won by the country in the 2011 arbitration case against China.

In May, amid reports that China has set up missiles on islands in the West Philippine Sea, Duterte met with top officials from the AFP and police to explain his stance toward the socialist country, which has been described by opposition senators as a “policy of appeasement.”

Duterte also said the military would also oust him if he sent troops to fight China in the West Philippine Sea.

Opposition lawmaker and former Marine Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano claimed Duterte order a halt to patrols in the area, but was met with opposition from the military. This, however, has been refuted by the AFP and the Palace.