MANILA: A Philippine communist rebel leader says the insurgents can no longer hold peace talks with President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and it is better to help oust him and negotiate with his successor.
Jose Maria Sison said Thursday that Duterte wants the guerrillas to surrender without addressing the problems that have fostered one of Asia’s longest communist rebellions. He criticized Duterte for being “subservient to US imperialism” and blamed him for the “traitorous sellout” of disputed South China Sea territories to China.
Duterte says he’s ready to fight the insurgents for another 30 years. Both sides agreed to resume stalled peace talks brokered by Norway on Thursday, but Duterte delayed the resumption indefinitely, antagonizing the guerrillas.
The insurgency, one of Asia’s longest, has raged for nearly half a century.
