Duterte: No more peace talks with Reds

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday that he is no longer interested in peace negotiations with the communist rebels, following the New People Army's (NPA) continued attacks against security forces.

During his surprise visit to government forces in Marawi City, the Chief Executive lamented the "strong resurgence" of offensives perpetrated by the NPA, the communist group's armed wing, in different parts of the country.

Duterte then issued a new directive to address the NPA's uprising, once the government is able to end the armed conflict in wartorn Marawi City.

"Don't be too confident because there is a strong resurgence. The NPA has returned. After this armed struggle, after these fools (terrorists) are wiped out, let's re-orient. The NPA, they owe us huge debt," he told the government troops fighting Islamist fighters in Marawi City.

"I don't want to talk to them. They killed many of my soldiers. They killed many of my policemen," he added.

Fresh offensives by the communist rebels in Cotabato last Wednesday wounded four of Duterte's security aides.

The encounter between the Presidential Security Group and the rebel group prompted the government to cancel the back-channel talks with the communists before end of July.

Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza on Wednesday said that the desired enabling environment in order to resume the peace talks is still "not present up to this time," citing the attacks of NPA against government forces.

Duterte, who earlier expressed willingness to push through with the peace negotiations with the communist group even after he questioned their sincerity, urged his men to be vigilant of the possible attacks of the NPA in the coming days.

"I gave you sidearms. Be alert because NPA will really kill you," he said. (Ruth Abbey Gita/ SunStar Philippines)