Duterte declares unilateral ceasefire with Philippines communist rebels for Christmas

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a 10-day unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels so that Filipinos can celebrate a “stress-free” Christmas season. Two weeks ago, peace talks with the insurgents were formally scrapped. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte had ordered the army and police to suspend offensive operations from December 24 to January 2, Reuters reports. The government expects the Maoists and their political leaders to “do a similar gesture of goodwill,” Reuters said. Duterte restarted a stalled peace process and freed several communist leaders as a gesture of good faith last year. However, the talks were recently abandoned due to escalating rebel attacks.