Anakbayan condemned the Marcos regime’s construction of a missile storage facility at the Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Barangay Looc, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, which began as early as February. The facility became a topic of discussion following fears that it could become a target for attack that would endanger civilians.

The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are constructing the facility under the corruption-riddled program Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS or Infrastructure Strength for Peace and Security). The regime reportedly allocated at least ₱9 million for the project.

The facility heightens the people’s prevailing security apprehensions the US EDCA site at Benito Ebuen Air Base already brings to the city. In fact, only in January, it opened a new military fuel storage facility for operations of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the US Pacific Air Forces in the country.

According to Anakbayan, these facilities are clear threats to the people and to Philippine sovereignty. “The US-Marcos Jr regime is building military infrastructure turning the Philippines into a war staging ground for the US imperialists in the region, not to defend the country,” the group said.

Many other facilities in the country are also regarded as US military bases and installations. These include the nine declared EDCA sites and numerous other secret bases in the country, which have become magnets for attacks from the rival imperialist China. US war games in the Philippines further heighten tensions.

“These kinds of facilities do not bring peace and protection but rather direct threats to the people’s lives. Marcos Jr is colluding and subservient to the US to advance the US geopolitical agenda in the region in exchange for protection and support from his imperialist master so he can stay in power,” Anakbayan said.

The group called on fellow youth and Filipinos to push for the removal of these US bases and facilities in the country, the termination of lopsided military agreements with the US, and the expulsion of American troops from Philippine territory.