MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire with communist guerrillas effective immediately on Monday and asked the rebels to do the same to end decades of deadly fighting and foster the resumption of peace talks.

In his first state of the nation address before Congress, Duterte said he wanted a “permanent and lasting peace” before the end of his six-year term, which commenced on June 30.

The ex-city mayor, who built a name for his tough, crime-busting style, also focused on his battle against illegal drugs, threatening drug dealers anew with death.

Addressing the New People’s Army guerrillas, Duterte said: “Let us end these decades of ambuscades and skirmishes. We are going nowhere and it is getting bloodier by the day.”

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2016