No need for third party in peace talks with communists -- Palace

MALACANANG does not see the need to have a third party facilitator in the government's talks with the communist rebels as President Rodrigo Duterte wants negotiations to be held in the Philippines.

In a press conference on Monday, Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte emphasized that the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) should talk among themselves on Philippine soil, instead of Norway, the third party facilitator between the two parties for nearly two decades.