Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. (Photo: EPA/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced on February 4that the Government will cancel peace talks with rebel group New People’s Army(NPA).
Speaking withreporters in Davao city, Duterte said that he has ordered negotiators of thegovernment peace panel “to fold up tents and come home”. The peace talks willremain cancelled until there is a compelling reason to prove that the talks benefitthe interest of the nation, according to Duterte.
On February3, the President also declared to annul the unilateral ceasefire with the NPA whilethe Philippine army pledged to have no mercy on the rebel group.
The NPArepealed its one-sided ceasefire with the Government on February 1, saying thatPresident Duterte did not keep his promise to release about 400 political prisoners.Besides, the group accused the Philippine army of using the ceasefire as anexcuse to enter areas that are under the control of the NPA.
In August2016, the NPA announced a ceasefire from August 28, 2016 to February 10, 2017to pave the way for resuming peace talks with the Government. The fight between the Government troops and the NPAhas claimed about 30,000 lives since the 1960s. The number of the NPA’s gunmenhas been reduced to 4,000 from 26,000 at peak.-VNA
