American Notes the Philippines

On the eve of cease-fire talks between the government of President Corazon Aquino and Communist insurgents, guerrilla warfare has not ceased. In fact, in three separate actions last week, members of the Communist New People's Army / ambushed and killed government soldiers. In the first attack, which occurred near Gumaca, about 90 miles southeast of Manila, guerrillas killed 13 military people. Two days later, eleven soldiers died in an ambush some 230 miles north of Manila. The following day, seven more were killed in a shoot-out in the Aurora province.

Despite the attacks, preliminary cease-fire talks were held. Agriculture Minister Ramon Mitra, one of the two government negotiators selected by President Aquino, said both sides were completing "the framework for the talks."