The NPA is the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which has been waging the longest running communist insurgency in Asia. The NDF, its political arm, is the group directly dealing with the government for the peace talks. After the declaration of martial law, the CPP ordered the NPA to launch more attacks in Mindanao. He claimed that Duterte told NDF peace panel chair Fidel Agcaoili that the two parties should unite against terrorist groups like the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf. “We in the NDFP condemn the attack by Maute group in Marawi City,” he said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 26, 2017 05:48 UTC