US cargo planes arrive in Zamboanga; CPP welcomes joint patrol halt

From GMANews (Oct 9): US cargo planes arrive in Zamboanga; CPP welcomes joint patrol halt

The arrival of US cargo planes in Zamboanga City has become "unusually" more frequent in the past few days, in light of pronouncements from Rodrigo Duterte to remove US troops from Mindanao.

The development also happened on the heels of a statement from Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the country would no longer join joint patrols with foreign navies in the South China Sea.

In his report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Sunday, GMA News' Chino Gaston said US cargo and transport planes like a Boeing C-17 have been seen arriving at the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom).

Gaston, however, said it was not immediately clear if the US cargo planes were sent there to pull out or to bring in equipment. He claimed that cargoes were both loaded into and unloaded from the aircraft.

Gaston quoted officials of the Wesmincom as saying that they have not received any word about plans for the US troops to pullout from the military camp in Zamboanga City, where Gaston said around 70 to 80 US servicemen remained stationed.

Asked if the arrival of planes was "highly unusual," Gaston said: "Tama ka diyan... Walang naka-schedule na malakihang training exercise pero alam naman natin nandito sila in a supporting capacity para sa paggawa ng surveillance para makakuha ng impormasyon para sa sandatahan natin para sa laban sa terorismo."

Gaston also reported that there are no more US ships docked at the Zamboanga port.

Earlier Duterte said he would no longer allow joint military exercises with the US and that the amphibious landing exercises being held from October 4 to 12 would be the last during his term as president.

Duterte's six year term will end in 2022.

The President had also said that he wanted the US forces in Mindanao to pull out.

Lorenzana, meanwhile, had said that the US and the Philippines have not been conducting “joint patrols” but only having “passing exercises” in the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the disputed waters.

The Communist Party of the Philippines has already issued a statement welcoming the Duterte administration's initiative for the "pullout" and halt in joint patrols.

"Likely aware of the DND announcement, US military units yesterday began pulling out their equipment from Zamboanga, revealing how much they want to keep their equipment and capabilities to themselves," said the CPP in a statement on Sunday.

"We welcome how GRP President Duterte is walking his talk of an independent foreign policy. He is positively addressing the long standing demand of the Filipino people to promote national sovereignty and end US neocolonial rule. With the Filipino people, the GRP president can walk further along the path of national independence," the group added.

The CPP also called on Duterte to rescind the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty, as well as order all military bases and facilities inside AFP camps to be closed down.

The National Democratic Front, the political arm of the CPP, is currently holding peace talks with the government in Oslo, Norway.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/584373/news/nation/us-cargo-planes-arrive-in-zamboanga-cpp-welcomes-joint-patrol-halt