MANILA - Return to the fold of the law in exchange for a new and normal life.

President Rodrigo Duterte issued anew the offer to members of the New People's Army (NPA) during the pre-recorded Talk to People aired Monday night, saying the military will welcome and assist them.

"This is my order to the military: If they want to surrender, give them the chance to surrender properly and if they surrender the firearms, the next trip downstairs from the mountains, you accompany them," Duterte said.

"I'll give you a house, I'll give you a job, temporary, may suweldo ka na (you'll get a salary)," he added.

Duterte said they can also acquire livelihood knowledge from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

"Kung wala kang alam sa skills, mag-enroll ka muna kay General (Isidro) Lapena at magturo sila 'yung TESDA, magturo sa iyo kung anong klaseng trabaho gusto mo, technical, turuan kayo (If you don't have skills, you can enroll at Gen. Lapena and TESDA. They will teach you, you can learn based on your preferred technical skills. They will teach you)," he said.

Duterte told the NPA rebels they must end the long-standing fight with government troops and just surrender because the government will help them.

"May suweldo kayo, may bahay kayo at you know, tapusin na natin ito. Tutal sinubukan naman natin 'yang barilan. Wala mang nangyari. Pinatay mo lang ang Pilipino (You'll get a salary and house. You know, let's end this, since we already tried gun-fighting, nothing happened. You just killed Filipinos)," he said.

"Mag-surrender kayo. Makinig kayo, totoo. Marami naman nag-surrender, marami nang nabigyan ng bahay, nabigyan ng trabaho, nagbagong buhay na. Wala nga lang baril (Just surrender. Listen to this, for real. Many has surrendered, and they have houses and given jobs. They already have a new life but without a gun)," Duterte added.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

In December 2018, President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 70 creating the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which is tasked to "provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the implementation of the whole-of-nation approach to aid in the realization of collective aspirations for inclusive and sustainable peace."

There is also the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) that grants financial and livelihood aid to rebel returnees and their beneficiaries. (PNA)