Bello on talks with Reds: ‘Sino nagsabing wala nang pag-asa?’

CLARK, Pampanga — Labor Secretary and government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III on Thursday expressed optimism that the peace talks with the communists would be revived despite the pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Sino ang nagsabi na walang pag-asa? Honestly, I'm sad dahil alam ko naman na ang legacy na iniisip na ibigay ng Pangulo sa ating bansa is a just, inclusive, lasting peace,"  Bello told reporters after welcoming overseas Filipino workers at the airport with the President.

"So ito ay major setback lang sa road to peace, one of the big humps in the road to peace. Pero I'm sure na iyong humps will someday disappear and we will go back to the road to peace... May pag-asa habang nabubuhay si Presidente at ako," he added.

Duterte on Tuesday signed Proclamation Order No. 374 declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army as terrorist groups.

He said that he would no longer talk with the communist rebels because of their attacks against his security forces during the peace process.

Bello, meanwhile, reiterated that an enabling environment was required to resuscitate the peace talks.

"In other words, dapat magpakita naman sila ng sincerity in talking peace with the government," Bello said. —NB, GMA News