The scene of the attack on the presidential vehicles in Mindanao province (Photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine President RodrigoDuterte on July 19 threatened to end peace talks progress with an opposite militantgroup, hours after an attack on the presidential vehicles wounding at leastfour of his military bodyguards.
Duterte directed not to resume official peace talkswith the New People’s Army (NPA) militant group unless the guerrillas promiseto stop attacks on government soldiers in southern Mindanao province, said astatement issued by the presidential palace.
To end two-month impasse of the negotiationprogress, Duterte planned to send negotiators to discuss a possible bilateralceasefire agreement, the government statement said.
But it warned that for formal peace talks toresume, the rebels must commit to suspending operations against the militaryand the police and stop all their extortion activities.
The government blamed the NPA for the attack ontwo Presidential Security Group vehicles along a highway on the main southernisland of Mindanao. Duterte was not inthe area when the clash happened.
The attack came when the government was fightingagainst Islamic State-inspired gunmen in Marawi city on Mindanao island.
President Duterte on July 17 requested thecountry’s Congress to consider extending martial law in Mindanao until December31 after the two-month martial law almost came to an end, which was opposed bythe NPA.
[Philippine President asks Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao]
The peace negotiations between the government andthe NPA have been interrupted since Duterte took office last year and unilateraland bilateral ceasefires did not work.-VNA
