Manila: A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said on Wednesday that the declaration placing Southern Tagalog (also known as Calabarzon) under "Stable Internal Peace and Security" (SIPS) is a clear sign that the people in the region have rejected the ideals of the communist insurgents.

According to Philippines News Agency, NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. emphasized that the SIPS declaration for Southern Tagalog on June 12 signifies a historic rejection of Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) violence by one of the insurgents' biggest former strongholds. Torres highlighted that communities thrive not through violence and armed struggle, but through unity, cooperation, and shared aspirations.

"The story of Southern Tagalog proves that no insurgency is stronger than a united people determined to build a better future for their children," Torres stated. He remarked that the SIPS declaration marks not only a major security milestone but, more importantly, a victory earned by the people of Southern Tagalog after decades of conflict, intimidation, and underdevelopment.

NTF-ELCAC reports that Southern Tagalog's SIPS declaration aligns with a growing wave of peace gains across the country. Since 2018, 58 provinces have achieved SIPS status. Regions such as Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Western Visayas have been declared insurgency-free and placed under SIPS, while Caraga is expected to make its own regional declaration soon.

Torres indicated that these developments demonstrate the steady weakening of communist insurgency nationwide and the growing success of the government's whole-of-nation approach to peace and development. He described the SIPS declaration for Southern Tagalog as unique, noting that the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon were regarded by communist leaders as critical to their revolutionary ambitions.

"The declaration of SIPS is not merely the absence of armed conflict. It is the restoration of normal life. It means communities can focus on development instead of security threats," he said. This achievement, he added, belongs first and foremost to the people of Southern Tagalog.

Torres celebrated the barangays that resisted intimidation, families who protected their children from recruitment, and former rebels who embraced reconciliation. He also acknowledged local leaders, teachers, religious leaders, civil society partners, peace advocates, soldiers, police officers, and public servants for their dedication to protecting communities and advancing development.

"But above all, we celebrate the ordinary people of Southern Tagalog. Their courage, resilience, and unwavering faith in a better future accomplished what decades of violence never could," he said.