The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has condemned the “barefaced betrayal of the Filipino people’s independence and the country’s sovereignty” of the Marcos regime for “colluding with the US government and military for the secret transfer of the US Typhon missile system to an undisclosed location in the country”, in a statement last January 24, 2025.

“The deployment of the US Typhon (missile) system in the Philippines is a reckless provocation against US imperialist rival China. In doing so, the US is using the country as a springboard for its military projection and expansion of hegemonic power. It is a danger to the peace and security of the Filipino people, as well as other people in the region,” the CPP stressed.

It added that the Party and the Filipino people condemn Marcos and the AFP for following US dictates in declaring plans to acquire a Typhon missile system costing billions of pesos.

In previous reports, the Marcos regime and its top Armed Forces officials announced last December 23 that it was buying the Typhon missile system that reportedly costs around 500M USD (around 29B Php), an amount more than enough to build more public schools and homes, and agricultural subsidies for farmers especially those left more miserable as a result of recent natural disasters.

The Typhon Mid-range Capability (MRC) missile system has the capability to launch Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles that can fly up to 1,600 kilometers. The US began manufacturing such weapons in 2019, which were previously banned under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a nuclear treaty between the US and the then USSR signed during the Cold War. The US withdrew from this treaty in 2019.

“The Marcos regime must be condemned for acting like an American stooge in allowing the US military to dump and stockpile its weapons in the country, putting the Philippines at risk of being dragged in an inter-imperialist war that serves only the interests of US imperialism.

The Party reiterates the Filipino people’s demand that the US Typhon missile system be immediately removed from the country as it is a magnet for attack of US imperialist rivals, including China and Russia,” the CPP said.

Progressive groups have emphasized that allowing US troops and weapons in the Philippines tramples on the country’s independent foreign policy and that the GRP constitution prohibits nuclear weapons in Philippine territory.

The Typhon missiles were brought to the country and used in the largest series of Balikatan war games early 2024. Initially concealed, the Typhon missiles have been positioned at the Laoag civilian airport in Ilocos Norte, a region undeclared as a US military base or “EDCA site”, and Bongbong Marcos’ home province.

Recently, Marcos made a bluff that he would “return” the Typhon missiles to the US if China leaves the West Philippine Sea. Critics have said that nobody buys Marcos’ bluff as it is in fact the US that holds sway over Marcos’ armed forces and dictates where and when to position its forces and weapons.

According to reports, the Philippine military has announced that some of its platoons would be trained on using the Typhon system in February this year, ahead of another round of joint exercises with US troops.