Sotto says peace talks should continue but at barangay level

Vice presidential aspirant and Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said peace talks with communist rebels should continue but at the barangay level.

“In the barangay level, lower level, not in the higher ups [because] they are not being followed anyway. We should have peace talks below,” Sotto said in an interview over CNN Philippines when asked about his stance on continuing peace talks with communist rebels.

In the same interview, Sotto also said he favors lifting foreign ownership limits in the Constitution, more aggressive approach in protecting maritime interest in the West Philippine Sea, as well as the eased access to government officials’ Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth.

In 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a proclamation declaring the termination of peace talks with the communist rebels as the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) is still “engaged in acts of violence and hostilities.”

In June this year, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process turned down calls to revive peace talks between the government and the CPP following a fatal landmine attack on civilians by the NPA in Masbate City.—Hana Bordey/AOL, GMA News