Duterte says he is ready for 'immediate ceasefire' with communist rebels

MANILA, Philippines — About a month after declaring the "permanent" termination of talks with communist rebels, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he is ready to declare an "immediate ceasefire" to give way to negotiations.

Duterte, who previously said he was not ready to talk to communists, said talks would be possible if members of the New People's Army do not bring with them their weapons in their camps.

"Yung mga NPA, gusto talaga ninyo ng usapang matino. Immediate ceasefire (To the NPAs, let us talk sincerely. Immediate ceasefire)," the president said during a campaign rally in Cagayan.

No one should bring firearms in your camps. No taxation. No arson" he added. 

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These are the same conditions he previously set for a return to negotiations.

The president scrapped the talks with communists in November 2017 after NPA fighters mounted successive attacks against government forces and civilians.

The president reiterated the "permanent" termination of the negotiations last month.

Duterte also urged Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison to come home. Sison has been on self-exile in the Netherlands since 1987.

"Umuwi ka dito, Sison. Akong bahala sa ‘yo. Hindi ako traydor na tao. (Come home Sison. I am not a traitor) I give you my word of honor, mag-usap tayo (Let us talk)," Duterte said.

"But nothing about coalition government. You can never have even an iota of the sovereign power of the Republic of the Philippines," he added.

Duterte previously accused communists of demanding a coalition government, a power-sharing setup that he said would violate the constitution.