The Communist Party of the Philippines turns 44 years old today, December 26. A day after police and military units captured a key NPA leader in Negros Oriental, Filemon Mendrez, the 6th most wanted man in the country. 44 years since its inception, Asia's longest running insurgency is still in the strategic defensive stage despite its 2008 goal of being in a strategic stalemate with the Philippine government by 2013. The CPP however says they are "making substantial progress" in carrying out this objective. It also claims it now operates in more than 100 guerrilla fronts up from 39 in 2008.

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