MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to suspend operations against communist rebels over Christmas, the government said Wednesday, despite ending peace talks and branding the insurgents ‘terrorists’. However, Duterte cancelled peace talks last month and formally designated the Communist Party of the Philippines and its 3,800-member armed wing the New People's Army as "terrorist organisations". Duterte did not declare a Christmas truce with other armed groups, including self-proclaimed armed supporters of the Islamic State group still operating in the south. But he cancelled peace talks in November after a rebel ambush in the southern Philippines killed a police officer and a four-month-old baby. Duterte has also accused the communists of plotting with his political rivals to destabilise his rule.

Source: New Strait Times December 20, 2017 06:56 UTC