Silvestre Bello III

Silvestre Hernando Bello III (born June 23, 1944) is a Filipino businessman and lawyer from Isabela , who served as the secretary of the Philippines' Department of Labor and Employment, and concurrently Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, under the Duterte administration. Bello was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to replace Rosalinda Baldoz as the Department of Labor secretary.

Bello was a former justice secretary, solicitor general

In July 2022, he presented his credentials to President Tsai Ing-wen as de facto Philippine Ambassador to Taiwan.

Early life and education Bello was born in Gattaran, Cagayan, on June 23, 1944. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Manuel L. Quezon University in Quiapo, Manila, in 1966. He earned his Bachelor of Laws from Ateneo de Manila University Law School in 1970.

Career Marcos dictatorship Bello worked in private practice in the 1970s and 1980s and became active in several civic and human rights groups during the Marcos dictatorship such as the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), the Justice for Aquino, Justice for All (JAJA) Movement, the Coalition of Organizations For The Restoration of Democracy and the Coalition For The Protection of Workers' Rights.

By the mid-1980s, Bello served as chairman of the Davao City chapter of the Makabayang Alyansa (MA, formerly the "Mindanao Alliance"), an opposition group based in Mindanao. In May 1985, Bello became a member of the national organizing committee of the newly established Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

Fifth Republic He was appointed by then President Corazon Aquino as an undersecretary of the Department of Justice from 1986 to 1991. Bello served as justice secretary from 1991 to February 1992 when he resigned to run for the Senate as a candidate of Fidel V. Ramos' Lakas-CMD party in the May 1992 elections, which he lost. He was then appointed to several government positions by President Ramos such as the government negotiating panel during peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF before running again in 1995 for governor of Isabela but lost to Benjamin Dy. He was then reappointed by President Ramos as solicitor general from September 23, 1996, until February 3, 1998 He later served as Secretary of Labor and Employment during the entire term of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2022. After which, Bello served as chairperson of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, representing the Philippines to Taiwan, during the presidency of Bongbong Marcos, until he stepped down in September 2024.

Following the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte in 2025, Bello briefly served as Duterte's legal counsel.

Personal life Bello is married to Regina Gerona. He has five children.