The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Saturday said it would no longer declare a unilateral ceasefire following the decision of the government not to call a truce and instead negotiate a bilateral ceasefire agreement. In Malacañang, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte had directed the government peace panel to insist on a bilateral ceasefire agreement. Duterte made the instruction ahead of a fourth round of talks with representatives of the communist group. NDF willing to discuss bilateral dealThe communist rebels also said they were willing to discuss a formal ceasefire proposed by the government. President Duterte, a self-described socialist who once boasted of his links to the communist rebels, has made a peace deal with the movement one of his top priorities.

Source: Manila Times April 01, 2017 17:26 UTC