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MANILA (AFP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced Monday (July 25) a unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels who are waging one of Asia's longest insurgencies, and urged them to reciprocate.
Duterte made the announcement in his first "State of the Nation Address" to Congress as he laid the groundwork for peace talks with the communists that are due to begin in Norway next month.
"To stop violence on the ground (and) restore peace, I am now announcing a unilateral ceasefire," Duterte told lawmakers, as he called on the rebels to do the same.
Read more @: Philippines' Duterte declares communist ceasefire
Pretty huge announcement. Rodrigo Duterte is known in the past to be a peaceful negotiator with the New People's Army. I know in the past when he held a mayorship he was known to be able to negotiate settlements and agreements with the New People's Army. I hope this ceasefire sticks around and both sides can come to the negotitating table and reach a peace accord like what has been done with the FARC in Colombia.