The fifth round of talks between the Philippine government and communists was put on hold on the day that it was supposed to open here Saturday, May 27. Both peace panels said it will be deliberating further on the formal resumption of the talks today.
The New People’s Army Operations Command in Davao region said it will further intensify its “revolutionary struggle” amid the Martial Law declaration in the island of Mindanao.
The scheduled opening ceremony for the fifth round of talks between the government and the communists was suspended as the Philippine government announced that it will not participate in the scheduled fifth round of talks here until communists cease its armed operations.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines said it is one with the Philippine government in fighting local terrorists groups.
A high ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it would not recommend the suspension of freedom of expression but warned it would exercise its right to censure under the state of Martial Law in Mindanao.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed on Friday that there are foreign fighters involved in the Marawi siege.
Not bombing, but “surgical airstrikes with pinpoint accuracy” was how Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla described their operations against terrorist group Maute in Marawi City.
The Philippine National Police in Davao region (PRO-11) said the right to form a public assembly such as protests or rallies against the government will be curtailed with the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its top leaders said they are not in the position to question the factual basis of the declaration of martial law to contain the incident in Marawi City and prevent its escalation to other parts of Mindanao.
The Maute group called up a Roman Catholic bishop and threatened to behead a priest and 14 church workers unless the military stopped its operations in Marawi City.
