Protestant church leaders in the Philippines call for the resumption of peace talks with communist rebels during an Independence Day protest march on June 12. (Photo by Angie de Silva)
Peace negotiations between the Philippine government and communist rebels are on the verge of collapse, a rebel leader warned this week.
The continued detention of some 400 political prisoners threatens to derail efforts to end almost five decades of communist rebellion.
Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, issued the warning after President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly reneged on a promise to release the prisoners.
"By all major indications, the peace negotiations ... are heading for the rocks," said Sison in a statement on June 26 from the Netherlands where he is in exile.
Sison said that for more than a year, the Philippine government has not fulfilled its promise to issue a general amnesty for prisoners.
Government and rebel peace negotiators have conducted four rounds of formal talks since Duterte came to power in the middle of last year.
The government has so far only released 19 political prisoners as a "gesture of goodwill to restart the stalled peace talks with the communist rebels.
Government peace adviser Jesus Dureza has expressed doubt over the sincerity of the rebels in the peace talks, citing attacks perpetrated by the communist guerrillas in recent weeks.
"The targets of the offensives were not only government forces but innocent civilians and private property," said Dureza.
"This evokes uncertainties as to whether their leaders are in earnest and sincere in pursuing a negotiated peace settlement," he added.