MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is expecting the defeat of the decades-old communist insurgency by the second quarter of 2019 as the prospects for peace talks between the government and the rebels remain uncertain. Duterte said many communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have surrendered despite threats of being assassinated by their former comrades. “I think that if God is merciful, this would be over by about the second quarter of next year. The good thing there is there are firearms,” the President said. But this time, they are coming down and surrendering firearms,” he added.

Source: Philippine Star September 19, 2018 15:33 UTC