Communist rebels urged to lay down arms, stop attacks

The Philippine government yesterday rejected calls by lawmakers to resume cancelled peace talks with communist rebels, unless the guerrillas lay down their arms and cease attacks against civilians and security forces.More than 60 members of the House of Representatives have filed a resolution asking President Rodrigo Duterte to resume the peace negotiations with the rebel Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which were terminated in November.Presidential spokesman Harry Roque noted that while Duterte was committed to peace, “the communists have become spoilers of peace because of their penchant for double talk and treachery.”“Their motives are not for attaining sustainable peace but rather to push for their greater control and influence,” he said in a statement.Roque said the government would consider resuming the talks with the communist rebels under an “enabling environment” and if the guerrillas show “genuine sincerity.”“They must cease their hostilities against innocent civilians and government forces; end their extortion activities, violent streaks and wanton killings; lay down their arms and return to the fold of law and restart to live normal lives,” he added.Aside from terminating the peace talks, the Duterte administration also asked a Manila regional trial court to declare the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist organisations.The Department of Justice’s petition also sought to declare more than 600 people, including a United Nations special rapporteur, former Catholic priests and former lawmakers, as terrorists for their alleged links to communist rebel groups.