Philippines' Duterte Called 'Volatile' After Ending Cease-Fire

Jose Maria Sison, the exiled founder of the Marxist insurgency in the Philippines, had harsh words for President Rodrigo Duterte after he abruptly canceled a cease-fire with the rebel New People's Army.

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"The newly-elected president is too volatile," Sison, speaking in Filipino, told ABS-CBN News.

"He can't just issue an ultimatum and expect the revolutionary group to immediately follow what he wants … the revolutionary movement is treated as if it's a servant of the new boss," added Sison.

Duterte issued a unilateral cease-fire on Monday, only to cancel it a few days later after the rebels did not reciprocate in time for the president's arbitrary deadline.

The exiled leader had asked Duterte on Friday to be patient and said that the rebels “should be given enough time to study the implications and consequences” of the cease-fire.

Sison said that the New People's Army were actually set to announce their own cease-fire on Saturday but were preempted by Duterte's announcement.

"Volatility, lack of prudence in something as sensitive and delicate as peace negotiations between two armed fighting sides, it's hard to agree with people who are quick to judgment," said Sison to ABS-CBN news.

Renato Reyes, secretary-general of Bayan (Nation), a left-wing political group, also criticized the government for imposing "unrealistic" ultimatums, saying the "peace talks are more complicated than some folks think".

Duterte was angered by a clash between rebels and state security forces that left one militiaman dead. The armed forces claimed they were ambushed but the rebels said they were merely responding to a provocation by state forces.

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Although the now-canceled cease-fire was declared on Monday, the order to suspend operations was only issued to the Armed Forces on Tuesday and to the National Police on Wednesday.

The clash between rebels and state forces took place on Tuesday.

Rigoberto Sanchez, a spokesperson for the rebels, said in separate statement that the cease-fire was "non-existent" in their area, calling it "spurious."

Formal peace talks are still expected to begin on August 20 in Oslo, Norway.

A spokesperson from the Duterte government said Sunday that the government's unilateral cease-fire could be re-implemented despite the cancellation.

"We may work out a negotiated truce with the Communists," Jesus Dureza, presidential peace adviser, told Reuters.

"It was in our agenda when the formal peace talks resume in Oslo. The peace talks will go on as scheduled."