The New People’s Army (NPA)-Southern Tagalog (Melito Glor Command) and the Office of the Regional Spokesperson (ORSP) announced in September the appointment of a new regional command spokesperson. Former NPA-Quezon (Apolonio Mendoza Command) spokesperson Ka Cleo del Mundo will serve as the regional revolutionary army’s official spokesperson and representative.
Ka Cleo is the command’s fifth spokesperson after the late Ka Roger (1992-2000), Ka Bart (2001-2009), followed by Ka Diego (2016-2019), who is currently imprisoned, and Ka Armando Cienfuego. As a female commander of the people’s army, Ka Cleo will also symbolize the invaluable and important role of Filipino women in the armed struggle.
Ka Cleo has served as the voice of the people’s army and revolutionary people in Quezon for over a decade. During her tenure as provincial spokesperson, she responded sharply and promptly to various issues during the past Aquino II and Duterte regimes, and the current Marcos regime.
ORSP-NPA-Southern Tagalog stated that Ka Cleo’s appointment as the new regional people’s army spokesperson will further ensure that the Southern Tagalog people have a voice to express true and accurate information. The office assured that Ka Cleo will not tolerate any fake news and disinformation spread by the Marcos regime and its armed forces.
Ka Cleo will sharply challenge and correct falsehoods so that the stance and struggle of the people’s army and Southern Tagalog people receive proper direction.
In her first statement as NPA-Southern Tagalog spokesperson, Ka Cleo called on the NPA to fight vigorously and defeat the state’s all-out war against the revolutionary movement. She outlined the condition of the country and the region, especially amid exposed issues of corruption under the Marcos regime, economic and political crises, intensified fascism, and increased US intervention in the country.
Ka Cleo said, “The entire nation is ready to defeat and end the US-Marcos II regime’s counter-revolutionary war through their class unity, advancing the national-democratic struggle, and arming themselves.” She declared that all units of the people’s army in Southern Tagalog are ready to fight to defend the people from the state war’s brutality, punish the treacherous enemies, and win the people’s war to achieve true freedom, democracy, and just peace.
Various commands under NPA-Southern Tagalog welcomed and congratulated Ka Cleo’s appointment as the new regional spokesperson. National Democratic Front-Southern Tagalog allied organizations also sent her their salute.
NPA-Mindoro (Lucio de Guzman Command) spokesperson Ka Madaay Gasic said Ka Cleo’s appointment as new spokesperson reflects the determination of the people in the region on the path of prolonged people’s war. “The NPA and guerrilla fronts in the region remain and reinvigorate alongside the people’s rising anger against the US-Marcos regime’s worsening oppression and exploitation,” he said.
“We are proud of you, Comrade Cleo!” Kabataang Makabayan (KM)-Quezon (Dani Lagrama Chapter) declared. Ka Cleo joined KM-Quezon before entering the people’s army and served there for many years.
KM-Quezon expressed joy that the next generation of Quezon youth continues to take up high revolutionary responsibilities. “Youth truly are the generation of the revolution!” KM-Quezon said. The group stated that ever since Ka Cleo joined KM-Quezon, she has shown excellence as an organizer and propagandist who awakens, organizes, and mobilizes the youth.
“Because advancing the democratic people’s revolution is just, we invite everyone to join the NPA, especially the youth. You are the new generation of Filipinos who will inherit the future,” Ka Cleo concluded in her first statement as regional spokesperson.
