Stronger alliances, more joint patrols in WPS backed — SWS

A large majority of Filipinos support the conduct of more joint patrols and military exercises to defend the country's territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

- Janvic Mateo

The Feb. 15 to 19 survey, commissioned by the Stratbase Group, also asked respondents if they support stronger alliances with other countries in response to China's aggression in the region.

Some 77 percent of the respondents agreed to the statement, "The Philippine government must further strengthen its alliance with other countries through joint patrols, joint sails and joint military exercises to assert and defend the Philippines' territorial and economic rights in the West Philippine Sea."

It showed 59 percent who "strongly agreed" and 18 percent who "somewhat agreed" with the statement.

Only nine percent disagreed, while 14 percent were undecided.