The National Democratic Front-Cagayan Valley (NDF-CV) condemned the imperialist US and its puppet Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the new series of war games in the provinces of Cagayan Valley. On March 24, the US and the Philippines officially began the joint Salaknib and Balikatan 2025 (SABAK 2025), which involves the region as a site for several war games and activities on land, sea, and air within its scope.

Cagayan Valley is a usual site of war games and military activities due to its position in North Luzon, being near China, which the US considers a threat. “This will again bring intense terror and trauma to civilian communities that these war games devastate year after year,” NDF-CV spokesperson Ka Salvador del Pueblo said.

Phase 1 of Salaknib will take place from March 24 to April 11, while Phase 2 from May 19 to July 20 at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, and in the operational areas of the 5th ID in North Luzon and the 7th ID in Central Luzon. For the first phase of the war games, an estimated 3,000 Philippine Army soldiers and 2,000 US Army Pacific soldiers are expected to participate.

Meanwhile, the Balikatan war games are scheduled from April 21 to May 9. At least 16,000 troops from the US, Philippines, Japan, and Australia will reportedly participate in these war games. “Expect this to be more challenging and dangerous compared to previous joint exercises, which according to the US will feature a ‘full-scale battle test,'” Ka Salvador said.

The Aparri local government has already advised its residents about live fire exercises involving fire and armor assets of the US and the 5th ID set for June 2025. “This will again be a severe blow to the livelihood of fisherfolk who will be prohibited from going out to sea, similar to Ilocos fisherfolk who suffered significant losses from the imposed ‘no sail zone’ because of live firing in the waters,” the spokesperson said.

Beyond livelihood concerns, NDF-CV believes this poses a significant threat to public safety. According to the group, the US is provoking China and exploiting disputes in the West Philippine Sea to justify its warmongering.

“Even just the US military power’s saber rattling in the Philippines already instills fear and psychological distress among the Cagayan Valley people, especially since it is close to Taiwan, which the US also provokes to separate from China,” Ka Salvador added.

In addition, Ka Salvador condemned AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla for his recent statement that “the more [Typhon missiles in the country], the merrier.” This followed reports that the US Indo-Pacific Command would send an additional battery for its Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Typhon missile system.

According to NDF-CV, rumors in January about Typhon missile systems being prepositioned in Batanes or Lallo, Cagayan caused significant alarm, although AFP neither confirmed nor denied their exact presence in the region.

Amid these dangers, NDF-CV called on regional residents and Filipinos to fully expose and oppose SABAK 2025, which endangers their lives, livelihoods, and safety.

“Forge the broadest alliance of farmers, fisherfolk, women, youth, church people, lawyers, environmentalists, human rights defenders, and other civil society organizations opposed to imperialist wars, interventionism, and violations of sovereignty,” Ka Salvador urged.