THE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) threatened to break the August ceasefire if President Rodrigo Duterte does not withdraw troops from its self-declared “guerilla zones.”

The CPP said its armed wing the New Peoples Army (NPA) would resume the guerilla struggle if Mr Duterte does not accede to its demands.

Providing the president withdraws troops and releases remaining political detainees through an amnesty by January, the NPA vowed it would guarantee the ceasefire’s extension, helping to foster peace talks brokered by Norway.

“He will only have himself to blame if this forces the hand of the CPP to terminate its unilateral cease-fire declaration,” it said.

Although violence has not been exchanged between the two sides, the rebels claim that government deployment of troops and army surveillance within rebel areas has violated the ceasefire.

The army has denied these allegations but is unlikely to heed the rebels’ demands.