MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said things would have been easier for the government if it could just drop bombs in lairs of communist rebels, as he urged members of the New People’s Army to just surrender and return to the fold of the law.

In a speech in Masbate, Duterte said drone technology provided by allies like Israel and the United States have made it easy to spot communist camps.

He said bombing communist lairs would have easily solved the insurgency problem in the country but he decided against it to spare innocent civilians.

“Ako, maraming tumutulong sa Israel, USA. Kaya nakikita kayo sa drone, helicopter. Gusto nila na titirahin kayo diyan sa taas. Ako lang ang tiga-pigil. Sabi ko, huwag na. Pasalubungin mo na lang ng sundalo, baka makumbinsi mo pang mag-surrender,” Duterte said.

“The waging of war, kinokontrol ko ‘yan. Lalo na paggamit ng bomba. Kasi alam mo pagka-bomba, bomba. Kung i-landing diyan ‘yang isa, ubos tayo dito lahat. Eh paano ‘yung mga civilian? Kasi kung wala lang civilian, medyo matagal na sigurong malinis ito. Hulugan ko na lang ng bomba.”

The President instead urged communists to surrender, as he promised to give them a new lease on life as ordinary citizens.

“Sumurrender kayo. Bigyan ko kayo ng lupa, i-land reform ko muna ‘to at itatayuan ko kayo ng bahay. At for the meantime na pinag-aralan ninyo paano maghanap-buhay, papapasukin ko dito ang TESDA, ‘yung livelihood, electricians, tapos ang DSWD kung ano pang matulong nila,” he said.