MANILA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government announced on Wednesday that it has decided to cancel peace talks with leftist rebels in the country.

"There will be no peace negotiations anymore with the (rebels) until such time as the desired enabling environment conducive to a change in the government's position becomes evident," presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said in a statement.

Dureza said this was done according to President Rodrigo Duterte's directive.

Recent tragic and violent incidents all over the country have left the president with no other choice but to arrive at this decision, he said.

Nevertheless, Dureza thanked the Norwegian government for its support to the on-and-off talks to end the leftist rebels' insurgency.

The Philippine military later announced they arrested two New People's Army (NPA) top leaders last week in Pagadian City.

In his visit to soldiers on Tuesday, Philippine President Duterte said he wants to cut talks with the rebels following their attacks against troops and civilians. He also threatened to shut down mining firms that give "revolutionary taxes" to the rebels.

This is not the first time that the Duterte administration has announced the cancellation of talks with rebels.

In February, Duterte also announced the cancellation of the talks. But before Duterte's announcement, the rebels said they want out of the talks due to Duterte's failure to keep his promise to free 400 political prisoners.

After taking office last June, the Duterte administration revived the talks with the rebels last August. Norway has agreed to broker the talks again.

Since 1986, the Philippine government has been trying to reach a peace deal with the leftist rebels but failed to make any headway.

The leftist rebellion began in 1969 and reached its peak in 1987 when it boasted 26,000 armed guerrillas.

However, the movement has since dwindled due to differences in strategy and tactics and the arrests of many of its top leaders in the late 1980s. At present the military estimates the number of the armed rebels at around 4,000.