MANILA - The Philippine government and the communist rebels have started holding informal talks in Europe as they bid to resume peace talks, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said Tuesday.

OPAPP said Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza and government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III have informed President Rodrigo Duterte that “his clear directives are being relayed across the table and are now the subject of discussions in the ongoing meetings.”

“Our team is now in Europe and we are informed that there are initial positive results so far,” Dureza said in a statement.

Bello, for his part, said: “We are doing our best to meet the deadline set by the President about the resumption of talks within 60 days.”

• Duterte sets window for peace talks with communist rebels

Duterte last month ordered his Cabinet to work on the resumption of peace talks with leftist rebels "with clear instructions" to push for a ceasefire.

The talks fell through in November last year following clashes between government troops and communist rebels.

• Gov't cancels talks with Reds on Duterte's order

Duterte then moved to have the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army declared as a terrorist group.

The President, however, had a change of heart, saying he would like to give peace another chance.

• Duterte wants to give peace talks with Reds ‘another last chance’