MANILA - Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison on Wednesday thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for "deciding to continue the peace negotiations."

"I wish to express deep appreciation to President Rodrigo Duterte for deciding to continue the peace negotiations," Sison said in a statement.

Sison, also Duterte's former professor, was confident that peace talks between the government and the Left will prosper under Duterte's watch.

The Left's push for national sovereignty, development through land reform, national industrialization, and expansion of social services and benefits "can be achieved within the current term of President Rodrigo Duterte," Sison said.

Sison's remarks came days after Duterte announced the resumption of talks, following "backchannel" efforts.

Peace negotiations broke down early February, with Duterte even branding Reds as "terrorists." Duterte instructed the government panel to pull away from the negotiating table after several soldiers were brutally killed by New People's Army members last month.

But officials from the Left said they understood the sudden shifts in Duterte's temperament.

"We just have to accept the President as he is," former National Democratic Front (NDF) negotiator Satur Ocampo earlier said.

The 4th round of talks between the government and the NDF will happen next month.