MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday assured Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria Sison that he will be safe if he returns to the Philippines for peace talks.

“I’m giving you my word of honor. It is my word, and I would say umuwi ka mag-usap tayo, earnestly, sincerely,” Duterte said during the change of command ceremony of the Presidential Security Group in Malacañang.

“If it is unsuccessful, please go home, ihatid ko siya sa airport. Walang Aquino-style na patayan na barilin ko sa likod,” he added, referring to the assassination of Marcos critic Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr. at the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983.

Duterte earlier said Sison can go back to exile in The Netherlands if the peace talks do not succeed.

However, he also warned Sison that he would "kill" the CPP leader if the returns to the Philippines despite failed talks.

This triggered concerns from some communist leaders and their supporters, but Sison himself described Duterte’s statement as mere words of endearment.

Sison, who fled to Europe after peace talks failed in 1987 and has stayed abroad since, has said he is ready to go home as soon as there is "substantial progress" in peace negotiations between communist rebels and the government.

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The Philippine government and the National Democratic Front are currently in talks to revive the peace negotiations which Duterte had canceled.