CPP to NPA: Expand revolutionary war in '09

MANILA, Philippines - The Communist Party of the Philippines has urged its armed wing, the New People’s Army, to expand its revolutionary war in celebration of its past victories and to broaden its areas of influence. "Let us celebrate the Filipino people's past four decades of persevering revolutionary struggle by advancing further, achieving greater victories and leading the revolution closer to victory," the CPP’s central committee said in a statement. The NPA will celebrate its 40th anniversary on March 29. The CPP noted that the 5-percent expansion in the membership of the NPA, particularly in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao, where it said the NPA are providing at least a squad of militia in consolidated villages. It said the NPA operates in more than 2,000 barrios in 200 cities and towns in 19 provinces in Mindanao, with a mass base totaling more than 600,000 people. The CPP also boasted that no NPA guerilla front was dismantled in Mindanao in recent years despite the alleged direct participation of US troops in the combat operations of the Philippine military. The Philippine government has denied allowing US soldiers to join combat operations against rebel organizations, saying US military assistance to the country is limited mostly to training and exercises. "Enemy operations such as Oplan Destroyer in North Central Mindanao, Oplan Diwata in North East Mindanao and Oplan Pag-asa in Southern Mindanao have all been utter failures," the CPP further said of the military efforts to wipe out communist rebels in Mindanao. President Arroyo has ordered the military to eradicate the NPA on or before her term ends in 2010. - GMANews.TV