By Pearl Gumapos
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night (Jan. 24) urged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to surrender and promised them homes and jobs should they do so.
“Mga NPA, makinig kayo. Ibaba niyo muna iyang armas o ibigay ninyo sa army for safekeeping. Pag-akyat mo sa bukid, ibabalik iyan pero barrel nalang. This is my order to the military: if they want to surrender, give them the chance to surrender properly,” Duterte said during his address to the nation.
BASAHIN: Nanawagan si Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa mga miyembro ng New People’s Army (NPA) na sumuko na upang mag-bagong buhay kasama ng kanilang pamilya.
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“I can give you a house. Marami ako maibigay. I’ll give you a house. I’ll give you a job. Temporary. May sweldo ka na,” he said.
Duterte said that many have given up and have changed their way of living.
He assured the NPA members to not be afraid and that it is the obligation of Philippine soldiers to accept and take care of them.
“Tapusin na natin ito. Total, sinubukan natin barilan. Wala man nangyari. Pinatay mo lang ang Pilipino. May baril ka? For what? Ano iyong baril mo? [Tratuhin] mong asawa? Magsakripisyo ka ng ilang taon diyan tapos para pumatay lang ng tao,” Duterte said.
“If I were you, mag-surrender nalang kayo. Huwag kayong matakot. Pagka-sinabi mo na mag-surrender ka, alam mo na na mayroong corresponding obligasyon ngayon ang sundalo to accept you, to take care of you. Pati pamilya mo,” he added. -rir
