Duterte renews offer to Communist rebels who surrender

Manila: President Rodrigo Duterte renewed his offer to members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who want to return to the fold of the law, saying his government is ready to provide them with shelter, job and livelihood if they lay down their weapons.

Speaking before the recipients of certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAs) in Soccsksargen (Region XII), the president said his dialogue with the communist insurgents was about to end whether they agreed with the government or not.

The communists’ fighting capability has diminished and they no longer have the guns and ammunition as well as food to defeat the government, according to state media.

“To the communists, come down here. I’ll give you a small condo. The same condo that I allot for the military and police,” he said. “But it’s a house that you can live in. It’s habitable so to speak.”

It won’t be easy for the communists to surrender but Duterte said he believes they will slowly come down from the mountains.

Once they lay down their weapons, the president said he is willing to provide them with houses, job and skills training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

President Duterte also emphasised the seriousness of his administration to give land to the landless, noting he has instructed government agencies to distribute all surveyed state lands to the people.

During event, Duterte led the distribution of 12,548 CLOAs in Soccsksargen, which is expected to benefit 13,585 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

Soccsksargen is composed of four provinces and one city: South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.

The CLOAs distributed by the President in the event held at the Lagao Gymnasium covered a total aggregate of 24,000 hectares of lands all over Soccsksargen.