REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANILA -- The Philippine government is not giving up hope to resume the formal peace process with the leftist rebels even if it was stalled for over four years already, a senior government official said Sunday.

"We remain open and interested to discuss peace and to resume the formal talks," said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in an interview at a state- run radio station.

The formal peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA- NDF) have on an impasse since February 2011.

The leftist rebel group has been demanding for the release first of all their so-called consultants who have been detained before the formal talks proceed. In 2013, the government tried to revive the talks through a special track, but to no avail.

"Our government wants to push for the peace process and all the possibilities on how to resume the formal negotiation with the CPP- NPA-NDF are still being checked," Coloma said.

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