File picture of Philippines communist party founder Jose Maria Sison, 68, poses in front of a poster of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political arm of the Maoist rebels, in Utrecht July 16, 2007. REUTERS/Michael Kooren/Files
MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has freed 12 communist guerrilla leaders, police said on Thursday, days before a new round of peace talks with the Maoist-led rebels resumes in Norway to end nearly five decades of conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people.
New President Rodrigo Duterte has a reputation as an implacable and ruthless enemy of drug traffickers but he came to power after winning a May election promising to negotiate the end of long-running insurgencies.
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