MANILA – Efforts to revive peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels will not succeed if the New People’s Army does not stop committing acts of arson, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Tuesday.

The NPA torched P65 million worth of heavy equipment in 3 far-flung villages in Davao City on Black Saturday and Easter Sunday, the President’s peace adviser Jesus Dureza had said.

• Suspected NPA rebels torch heavy equipment in Davao City

The attacks were carried out as part of the rebels' efforts to extort money from companies involved in road projects in the area, said Bello, the government’s chief negotiator.

“Sabi ng ating Pangulo, wala nang peace talks, pero ‘pag nagpakita kayo ng sinseridad na talagang gusto niyo ng peace, puwedeng mag-resume. Kailangan pong ihinto muna iyung mga ganyang panununog,” he told DZMM.

(Our President had cancelled the peace talks, but said it may resume if rebels show sincerity that they peace. They should first stop these arson attacks.)

• 'Downright cowardly': Sara Duterte flogs NPA's torching of heavy equipment

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Since taking office in 2016, Duterte freed some communist leaders and put leftists in his Cabinet to show his commitment to finding a permanent solution to the 5-decade conflict. But he abandoned the process in November, after what he called repeated attacks by the rebels during talks.

Duterte in December declared the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, as terrorist organizations.

• Duterte declares CPP-NPA as terror group
• Reds to fight Duterte 'without hesitation' if tagged as terrorists: Joma

He also told state troops to shoot female rebels in their privates and also offered a P25,000 bounty for every rebel killed.

• Duterte defends 'sarcastic' remark on shooting women in genitals

The President, however, said last month he would first consult the country’s top military officials on whether or not the Philippine government should resume peace talks with communist rebels.

• Duterte says to consult military on proposed resumption of peace talks