Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said on Wednesday the Duterte administration should pursue localized peace talks with communist insurgents and should not give up on peace efforts with them.

"Giving up on peace should not be an option. But given the failures of past administrations who engaged in centralized peace negotiations, I fully support the present efforts of localizing it," he said.

Lacson, chairman of the Senate National Defense and Security Committee, said the situation of rebels varies in different areas, and the local government units (LGUs) are thus in a better position to determine and address their needs.

"What is needed from the national government would be clear guidelines and parameters for the talks, along with the proper assistance and supervision," he added.

"For one, not all LGUs have the same level of insurgency problems in their communities. That makes it more practical and efficient to pursue it at the local level with the national government just providing the guidance and support," Lacson said.

In his public hearing yesterday, Lacson said that Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison could not claim control over the New People's Army (NPA), the armed component of the CPP.

"Either that, or there is basis in the claim of the security sector that bad faith through deception has always been part of the CPP/NPA/NDF (CPP/NPA/National Democratic Front) Central Committee's agenda in calling for bilateral ceasefires with the government," he said.

“That explains why even if Sison agreed to a ceasefire, the NPAs continue their attack,” he added.