MANILA - President Duterte on Wednesday night promised to give jobs and houses to communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels who will lay down their arms.

"If they are really --- they want to stop fighting, 'yung gusto, all you have to do is drop your weapon, give it to your leader and come down," he said during TESDA's 23rd anniversary in Taguig.

"At I'll give you a job. Automatic, may --- may trabaho sila. And I'll give you a space, instead of giving to the soldiers muna. Sabihin ko lang sa sundalo na, 'Maghintay-hintay lang kayo. Tutal, may pera naman every year. I'll make you another one,'" he said.

Duterte aso said he did not bring up the issue of Department of Social Welfare and Development funds ending up in the hands of the NPA, which came out following the rejection of former DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo's appointment.

"You know, I did not raise that issue because para sa akin, it's too fundamental. Sabi ko sa mga military, 'Kung pera lang pati pagkain, pumunta sa NPA na gutom at 'yung ayaw mag-NPA na hindi myembro nila gutom, para sa akin, pareho lang 'yan,'" he said.

"If it's just a matter of food and money for medicines, I --- I don't make any distinctions there. Ang problema ko lang is 'yung armed struggle. Because they want you to kill so that you are identified --- can be identified with them."