The Southern Tagalog revolutionary movement ridiculed the Marcos regime and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for declaring a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) in the Calabarzon region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) on June 12. The AFP declared the region “peaceful” and claimed the region free of the revolutionary movement’s influence.

Ka Cleo del Mundo, spokesperson of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Southern Tagalog (Melito Glor Command) said the US-Marcos regime is daydreaming with this declaration. “While it pretends that Calabarzon no longer has revolutionary forces, military operations across various parts of the region are in full swing and relentless,” she said. The forces of the AFP Southern Luzon Command and the 2nd ID continue to scour the mountains and rural areas.

Del Mundo added that the “peace” sought by SIPS benefits the imperialists, big businesses and corporations. The regime gives them immense freedom to plunder natural resources, drive out peasants, suppress farmworkers’ wages, and deprive the people of social services.

She also said the declaration serves as an offering to US imperialism, to demonstrate its loyalty and guarantee that the region can freely be used for its war of aggression and other economic interests. The imperialists can now “freely” position their troops in any part of the region because the “obstacles” have been removed.

This is significant since Calabarzon is an area used for Balikatan Exercises and part of the Luzon Economic Corridor that is integrated with the imperialist war, which the US is provoking against China. It also plans to build an airport in Sangley Point, Cavite, with both military and commercial functions.

Thus, del Mundo said, as oppression and exploitation intensify, the people’s resistance will continue and they will remain on the side of the revolutionary movement, which they see as their only ally amid these conditions. “The people’s army never disappeared in Southern Tagalog. Units of the NPA under the Melito Glor Command are prepared to persevere in armed revolution and advance it through to victory,” she said.

As proof of the Calabarzon revolutionary movement’s continuing perseverance, NPA units in Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, and the National Democratic Front in Cavite and Laguna, released their respective statements. They declared their resolve to persevere and advance, especially under the beacon of the rectification movement.