MANILA, Philippines — Religious leaders on Friday called on President Rodrigo Duterte and the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army to talk peace instead of war.

In a statement, Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform also asked Duterte to revoke Proclamation No. 360, which formally terminated the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

“This new development is indeed very tragic as there were high hopes a year ago that peace will be achieved through the negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the NDFP after five decades of armed conflict,” PEPP said.

It added: “We thus call on President Duterte to rescind both proclamations and we implore both the GRP and the NDFP to return to the negotiating table—to talk peace instead of waging war.”

The church leaders said that violence will “surely ensue” following the chief executive’s declarations.

“Abandoning principled dialogue and relying on purely military might will be very costly, both in terms of lives and resources. A militarist approach will only fan the flames of the conflict instead of truly addressing it,” PEPP stressed.

READ: Duterte declares CPP-NPA as terrorist groups, Duterte formally terminates peace talks with Reds

Holiday truce

Religious leaders also called on the government and the NDFP to declare and observe the yearly Christmas ceasefire.

“As we approach the day of birth of Jesus Christ, the bearer of hope, let us all pray and work for a just and enduring peace, starting on the call to resume the GRP-NDFP Peace Talks,” PEPP said.

But Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on December 5 said he will not ask Duterte to declare a ceasefire with the NPA due to heightened guerrilla attacks against state forces.

“No, I will not. Because there was an order by their commanders to intensify operations against us,” Lorenzana told reporters.

The defense chief said suspending military operations against the armed rebels would leave soldiers vulnerable to assaults from the NPA.

A self-styled socialist, Duterte reactivated peace talks with communists in August last year. Both sides have been in on-off negotiations since 1986.