Philippines president rejects rebels' demand to free more prisoners

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a visit to Camp Servillano S. Aquino in San Miguel, Tarlac, Philippines December 11, 2016. REUTERS/ Czar Dancel

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday rejected a demand by Maoist-led rebels to free more prisoners as part of a ceasefire deal, saying he had made enough concessions and was willing to let peace talks collapse if necessary.

For decades the government and the communists' political arm, National Democratic Front, have held intermittent peace negotiations but without success. The release of political prisoners has proved a major stumbling block.