Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed in the country’s south on Saturday,killing seven people on board, local media reported.

The helicopter, carrying supplies for counterinsurgency forces fightingcommunist rebels, crashed in a mountainous area in the Bukidnon provinceapparently due to engine trouble, daily Tribune quoted regional armyspokesman Maj. Rodolfo Cordero Jr as saying.

Cordero said the helicopter had encountered an engine trouble.

The Communist rebels had declared a unilateral cease-fire in August 2016after some of their imprisoned members were released to participate in theresumed peace talks with the government.

During the peace talks between the Philippine government and the communistrebels in Oslo, Norway in the same month, both parties agreed on anindefinite ceasefire.

The second phase of peace talks between the parties officially began inOslo, in October 2016. It was reported that the peace talks were continuingin Rome, the capital of Italy, in January 2017.

On Feb.1, 2017, the communist rebels accused the government of failing torelease political prisoners and violating rebel-controlled areas,announcing that they would end the six-month cease-fire in the country.

Later, the New People’s Army of rebels killed four soldiers and kidnappedtwo soldiers in two separate armed attacks.

Following this, President Rodrigo Duterte announced he ended the cease-firewith the rebels and suspended peace talks, adding that the rebel leadersreleased due to the peace process will be sent to prison again.