The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not let its guard down as the 49th founding anniversary of New People’s Army (NPA) draws near. Rebels traditionally launch attacks on government targets to celebrate the founding, on March 29, of the NPA, the armed wing of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). ADVERTISEMENT‘Spoilers’Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana again called on communist rebels to lay down their arms after nearly 50 years of fighting. Peace talks between the Duterte administration and National Democratic Front of the Philippines collapsed after President Duterte raged at the continued attack by NPA on government soldiers. Upon his election into office in May 2016, Mr. Duterte vowed to work closely with the CPP to achieve peace.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 20, 2018 23:03 UTC