Philippine President lifts unilateral truce

Manila, July 30 (IANS) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday lifted his unilateral declaration of ceasefire with the leftist rebels and ordered the security forces to be "on high alert".

"I am hereby ordering the immediate lifting of the unilateral ceasefire that I ordered on July 25 against the communist rebels," Xinhua news agency quoted Dutarte as saying.

The president withdrew the truce declaration after the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) failed to meet his ultimatum for the rebels to reciprocate the armistice.

He issued the ultimatum after the rebels ambushed a group of paramilitary in southern province of Davao del Norte, two days after he declared the unilateral suspension of offensive military operations.

A militiaman was killed and four others were wounded in the attack.