[AA.TR] President Rodrigo Duterte has scrapped peace talks with communist rebels after they allegedly conducted a series of attacks on security forces."Let us renew the fighting for another 50 years. It's what you want," Duterte was quoted as saying by the Rappler at Davos City investment forum on Friday.
The backchannel talks between the government and Communist Party of Philippines (CPP) were supposed to resume within the next few days.
Previously, the talks were suspended in May after the president imposed martial law in the southern island of Mindanao following the siege laid by the ISIS-linked Maute group in Marawi City.
On Thursday, the president visited the Marawi City and told soldiers that New People’s Army (NPA), armed wing of the CPP, would be their next target.
"They owe us a lot. I no longer want to talk to them. They have killed many of my troops," Duterte told soldiers.
His announcement came after five members of his Presidential Security Group (PSG) were maimed in an attack claimed by the NPA in North Cotabato province Wednesday.
Also, police chief of Guihulngan city in Negros Oriental province and four others were killed, in an attack allegedly staged by suspected communist rebels Friday.
According to a report by inquirer, the coppers responded to a call from a provincial board member, who claimed that gunnies tried to ambush him and his driver.
The rebels attacked the responding coppers and a firefight ensued between them.