MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said his government has decided to no longer pursue talks with communist rebels, adding that the two sides should instead resume war.

In a speech in Taguig City, Duterte said “as of yesterday, I have decided to cut talks with the NPAs,” referring to the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Duterte said he has told Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza and government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III to convey to communist leaders abroad, among them CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison, that the peace talks would no longer resume.

“Sinabi ko kay Dureza pati kay Bello, you tell the guys there sa Netherlands, I'm no longer available for any official talk. Giyera na lang tayo,” he said.

In his speech, Duterte again blasted the communist rebels for attacking state troops and giving unreasonable demands in the peace negotiations.

Among demands that the communist leadership has made was the release of all political prisoners prior to the peace talks.

“Nung Presidente na ako, marami na silang hinihingi na hindi ko naman kayang ibigay because it is not mine to give and since they are very unreasonable,” said Duterte, who had wanted to end the protracted insurgency within his term.

“In-ambush (ambush) nila ‘yung pulis in Mindanao tapos pati ‘yung bata na four months old, tinamaan kaya napundi talaga ako,” he added, referring to the infant killed in an NPA ambush in Talakag, Bukidnon on Nov. 9.

Peace negotiations broke down in May this year following a string of attacks against state troops allegedly committed by the NPA.

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