Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday that peace negotiations with Maoist-led rebels would be scrapped, five months after both sides resumed talks to end nearly five decades of conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people.
Duterte called off a unilateral ceasefire on Friday, two days after the New People's Army (NPA) did the same. He was incensed by the killings and abduction of government troops since the NPA lifted the ceasefire.
The tough-talking Duterte said the communist leaders who his government had freed temporarily to take part in peace negotiations overseas would go back to jail.
"I will request tomorrow the Philippine contingent to fold their tents and come home," Duterte told reporters.
However, he suggested the door was not closed completely.
They would stop "unless there's a compelling reason ... that will benefit the interest of the nation", he said.
Negotiators from both sides met in Rome to come up with a negotiated truce but failed when the rebels demanded the release of 400 more political prisoners, including a man who killed an American army colonel in 1989.
They will return to The Netherlands in three weeks to resume talks on political, social and economic reforms, including terms of a bilateral truce.
The New People's Army ended its unilateral truce, accusing the military of violating its own ceasefire by occupying restricted areas. The ceasefires were fragile due to a lack of agreed rules.
The military, the NPA and government negotiators were hoping peace talks could resume, but Duterte's latest comments suggest he has lost patience with a process he had made a top priority.
Duterte on Friday ordered the army to hunt down the guerrillas and accused the communists of negotiating in bad faith. He accused them of continuing to recruit fighters, attack businesses and extort money from owners of plantations, mines, and transport companies.
Organised in 1969 as a ragtag army, the NPA has been waging protracted warfare to overthrow democratically-elected governments.
Reuters
Sun Feb 05 2017
The tough-talking Duterte (pix) says the communist leaders who his government had freed temporarily to take part in peace negotiations overseas would go back to jail. - Filepic
Penyasaran subsidi langkah selamatkan negara, kerajaan tiada pilihan - PM Anwar
Katanya, beliau sedar langkah itu akan menjadi bahan kritikan ramai namun ia perlu dilaksanakan memandangkan kerajaan tiada pilihan lain.
ADAMAS 'kejar' atlet lengkapkan modul khas Olimpik
Pihak ADAMAS juga menggerakkan usaha menggalakkan mereka yang berlatih di luar negara melengkapkan modul tersebut secara dalam talian.
Tiada kenaikan pangkat bagi ketua jabatan jika 'tutup mata' amalan salah laku
Katanya, agak mustahil bagi ketua jabatan atau ketua unit 'tidak tahu' mengenai wujudnya amalan salah laku dalam pentadbiran masing-masing.
Penghapusan subsidi diesel, impak ekonomi
Bermula pada tengah malam hari Isnin, 10 Jun 2024, harga diesel di semua stesen runcit petrol di semenanjung Malaysia akan ditetapkan pada kadar RM3.35 seliter, iaitu harga pasaran tanpa subsidi berdasarkan purata bulan Mei 2024.
Bagaimana langkah ini akan memberi kesan terhadap ekonomi dan perbelanjaan kerajaan?
Kupasan bersama Ketua Ekonomi, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd, Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid.
Bagaimana langkah ini akan memberi kesan terhadap ekonomi dan perbelanjaan kerajaan?
Kupasan bersama Ketua Ekonomi, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd, Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid.
Hari pertama tanpa subsidi, apa kata pengguna?
Untuk perkembangan lanjut hari pertama penghapusan subsidi diesel, kita bersama wartawan Ridauddin Daud.
Kalah teruk dalam pilihan raya EU, PM Belgium letak jawatan
Alexander De Croo meletakkan jawatan selepas partinya mengalami kekalahan teruk dalam Pilihan Raya Parlimen Eropah (EU).
AWANI Pagi: Pengiktirafan Pembangunan Industri Pelancongan
Tourism Industry Award bakal diumumkan tidak lama lagi, bagaimana penjurian dilakukan serta apakah signifikasi anugerah ini kepada pemain industri pelancongan? Ikuti temubual bersama Datuk Emmy Suraya Hussein, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tourism Industry Award dan Datuk Azlie Halim, CEO Santai Travel bersama AWANI Pagi jam 8.30 pagi.
AWANI Pagi: Misi penghantaran 1 juta pek daging korban ke Palestin
Diskusi AWANI Pagi 8.30 Isnin bersama dua tetamu yang akan berkongsi mengenai 'Misi Hantar 1 Juta Pek Daging Korban ke Palestin', program yang diusahakan Korban Ihsan Palestin, khusus untuk membantu penduduk yang dizalimi rejim Zionis
TH pantau operasi 25 syarikat PJH, pastikan khidmat terbaik untuk jemaah
Anuar berkata, sebelum diberikan lesen PJH, semua 25 syarikat perlu lalui tapisan ketat selain memenuhi syarat ditetapkan.
'Saya tak boleh dibeli, dijolok-jolok dengan projek untuk diam' - TMJ
Tunku Ismail tidak gentar untuk terus lantang bersuara demi kepentingan rakyat Johor.