President Rodrigo Duterte lifted Friday the government’s declaration of ceasefire with the New People's Army, armed-wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines said it will recommend to the New People’s Army to release the three prisoners-of-war in Sultan Kudarat and Surigao del Sur as measure of goodwill in the peace negotiations.
In his speech during the 38th National Convention of the Philippine Association of Water Districts, Duterte said the revolutionary forces should not coerce him as he had already “conceded too much, too soon.”
Human rights group ?criticized? ?President Rodrigo Duterte ?for? ?includ?ing? the military and reviv?ing? the Philippine Constabulary ?on? ?the war on illegal drugs, saying that it would result to more human rights violations.
The government peace panel believes there is still a chance to iron out issues following the decision of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army’s National Operations Command to terminate its unilateral ceasefire.