MANILA -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte vowed to provide members of the communist armed group, New People's Army (NPA) housing and livelihood if they surrender and return to the government's fold.
"Sumurender kayo. Bigyan ko kayo ng lupa, i-land reform ko muna ‘to at itatayuan ko kayo ng bahay. At for the meantime na pinag-aralan ninyo paano maghanap-buhay, papapasukin ko dito ang TESDA [Technical Education and Skills Development Authority], ‘yung livelihood, electricians, tapos ang DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development] kung ano pang matulong nila. (Just surrender. I'll provide you with land, I'll start with land reform then housing. And for the meantime that you are finding a way to earn a living, I'll let TESDA enter with livelihood programs, then DSWD for the ways they can help)," Duterte said in a speech at the launching of the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay in Masbate on Wednesday.
The President said the government has enough money to fund the livelihood and housing programs for the rebel surrenderers, as he urged them to yield at the earliest time possible.
"Anong gusto ninyo? (What do you want?) Another 52 years of fighting? Manalo kayo? (You think you will win?) Not in a million years. Alam ko kung bakit, marami akong napuntahan nag-surrender. Ang mga anak hindi nakapag-aral. Iniwan sa lolo at lola. Pag-surrender, nandiyan malaki na. (I know why because I met a lot of surrenderers. Their children were unable to attend school. They left their children to the grandparents and now that their kids have all grown up by the time they surrendered)," he said.
Duterte said his administration has been very keen on making rebels surrender than engaging them in bloody battles.
"Kaya nakikita kayo sa (You can be seen in) drone, helicopter. Gusto nila na titirahin kayo diyan sa taas (Others would like to attack you). Ako lang ang tiga-pigil. Sabi ko, huwag na. (I just stop them. I said it's unnecessary) Pasalubungin mo na lang ng sundalo, baka makumbinsi mo pang mag-surrender (It's better if rebels face soldiers, they might even be convinced to surrender)," Duterte said.
Duterte warned the communist rebels of the effects of their resistance.
"Ngayon, isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat, mag-surrender sa inyo. Ituturo kayo niyan balang araw. (Now, if one, two, three, or four of your comrades surrender, they will identify you)," he said.
Duterte said the NPA and its political wing Communist Party of the Philippines' (CPP) call for land reform is already being addressed under his administration.
"Ako almost every week umiikot ako sa Pilipinas natin nagdi-distribute ako ng certificate of ownership kasi ang land reform, sinabi ko talaga kay [Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary John) Castriciones, “unahin mo ‘yan” lalo na sa mga lugar na merong mainit talaga ang issue ng landlord pati tenant (I distribute certificate of ownerships around the country almost every week, I even ordered Agrarian Reform Secretary Castriciones to prioritize it especially in areas where land disputes between landlord and tenants are intense)," he said.
The President earlier said he does not like media publicity when distributing certificates of ownerships.
He also said he is leaving a "small window" for the resumption of peace negotiations with the communist rebels.
The CPP-NPA, in earlier reports, has been allegedly involved in cases of extortion, mass murder, and violation of indigenous people's rights.
The US State Department and the European Union have both tagged the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization. (PNA)
