Gov’t to pursue peace talks amid Malayao murder

Malayao, 49, was shot while asleep inside a bus in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya Wednesday.  (File photo: Felix Randy P. Malayao/Facebook)

MANILA –The national government has vowed to continue to push for peace amid the recent killing of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Randy Malayao.

Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) negotiating panel chairman Silvestre Bello III said he believes there are some people who would like to put to waste the efforts of government to make peace with the insurgents.

“Misguided elements may have been on the loose to put to waste whatever is left of the gains of the peace initiatives of the Duterte administration,” Bello, also concurrent Department of Labor and Employment Secretary, said in a statement issued on Thursday.

“But we, in the GRP Negotiating Panel, remain unperturbed even as the slimmest ray of hope for the just and peaceful settlement of the armed conflict with the CPP-NPA-NDF is dimmed further with the silencing of the purveyors of peace,” Bello added.

Bello noted that they were saddened upon learning of the incident.

“We take the report with shock and disbelief. The assassination was rather cowardly,” he said, appealing to those who are pushing for peace to be spared from senseless violence.

“Guided no less by the wisdom and determination of President Duterte to attain enduring peace, we plead that those seeking ways to peace be spared,” Bello said.

“It is our ardent hope that the life sacrificed by Malayao serve to give new life to our common desire for that elusive peace,” he noted.

Malayao, 49, was shot while asleep inside a bus in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya Wednesday.