A deal signed on Feb. 24, 1995, by the government and the communist rebels, called Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig), requires formal notification by either the government or the rebels for the end of the talks.

Jasig will apply to rebel negotiators and consultants within a month after the government formally ends the talks, Sison said.

‘Drunk with power’

“But it’s now hard to trust Digong (Mr. Duterte),” said Sison, who serves as NDFP consultant in the negotiations. “He is now drunk with power.”

Peace talks between the government and the NDFP collapsed in May after Mr. Duterte ordered the government peace panel to cancel negotiations in response to rebel attacks on police and military targets.

The President’s directive scrapping the peace talks with communist rebels still stands, Malacañang said on Sunday.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella also said the government was still trying to determine if the situation on the ground was “conducive” to pursue peace negotiations with the NDFP.

Ambush of PSG convoy

“Up to now, we are still assessing the situation,” Abella said, quoting Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza.

Formal peace talks between the government and the CPP were supposed to resume this month.