Peace talks with NDFP in ‘suspension mode’ —Bello

Peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines are in "suspension  mode" after President Rodrigo Duterte made a remark that the negotiations might better be pursued by another president. 

This was how Labor Secretary and government peace panel negotiator Silvestre Bello III feels about the fate of the 4th Round of talks with the NDFP,  during an interview on dzBB on Saturday. 

"Paano tayo mag-uusap kung wala namang magandang atmosphere para mag-usap?" Bello said quoting an earlier remark by the President.

"Patuloy ang hindi magandang ginagawa ng NPA ... kaya nasa suspension mode ang peace talks," he added.

Last Thursday, a seemingly  frustrated Duterte said, “...The way that it is now [continued attacks by NPA guerrillas on government soldiers], ayaw ko. And maybe it would take some time to… maybe another President to do it. Sabi ko, ‘It’s been 50 years.’ Estudyante ako noon, nakikinig naman ako kay Sison.” 

He was referring to Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison.

Earlier, Duterte nixed peace talks with the communists amid continued NPA attacks against government troops while negotiations were ongoing months ago.

But, the government has yet to announce that it has sent a formal letter of termination to the Royal Norwegian Government, third party facilitator of the peace talks. —LBG, GMA News