MANILA - Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison on Friday said the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has not given up peace negotiations with the Duterte administration.

"Some news reports claim that I have canceled or terminated the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations," he said in a statement.

"Only the National Council of the NDFP can make the decision to suspend, cancel or terminate the peace negotiations with GRP and has not yet made such a decision."

Sison, who served as NDFP's chief political consultant, said he can only give advice to the council.

• Joma says NDFP could no longer negotiate with Duterte

He earlier said that NDFP can no longer negotiate with the government for several reasons.

The Duterte administration failed to agree with their demands, such as the release of political prisoners, according to the group.

Changing the venue from Norway to Manila would also render the resumption of peace talks impossible, he said.

"The NDFP will not agree to such a demand because it violates the JASIG (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees) provision for a neutral venue abroad and because NDFP does not want to put its negotiating panel and related personnel under the control, surveillance and duress by Duterte and the military," he added.

Instead, Sison said he will "let Duterte have the singular dishonor of repeatedly terminating the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations."

"As I have repeatedly pointed out, Duterte is not interested in the peace negotiations but in scapegoating the CPP and NPA for the purpose of declaring martial law nationwide or a state of emergency in his mad drive to establish a fascist dictatorship under the guise of charter change to federalism," he said.