Warring sides in Philippines seek to resume peace talks

MANILA — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday his government would pursue peace talks with communist guerrillas despite an initial setback when he withdrew a cease-fire order after the rebels killed a militiaman in an attack.

The president held a Cabinet meeting Monday to discuss how his government would pursue talks with the communist insurgents and two groups of Muslim rebels in the country’s south, while excluding the brutal Abu Sayyaf extremist group.

The Maoist guerrillas said in a statement Sunday that they still fully back the resumption of long-stalled talks and were willing to declare a unilateral cease-fire simultaneously with the government when the talks resume.