Manila, June 28 -- The Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) peace campaign has achieved major gains after Calabarzon was declared a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) region following the decline of the communist insurgency.

Aside from Calabarzon being declared SIPS on June 12, the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon, and the Bicol Region continue making steady progress toward attaining the same status.

"Our greatest legacy is not measured solely by the operations we have conducted, but by the communities that have regained hope, the lives that have been transformed, and the enduring peace we have built together," Solcom commander Lt. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr. said in a statement over the weekend.

"Through the Road to Peace i...