MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte told members of the Philippine Marine Corps that it is better to kill themselves than to surrender to terrorists.

Speaking to the the Marines at Fort Bonifacio Monday, Duterte told the troops he will be giving them service firearms as gifts.

He then advised the troops to reserve bullets they can use to kill themselves in case they get captured by terrorist.

"I do not want my soldiers captured, treated like dogs, in their camp, mga terorista, tapos after one month, 2 months, iharap ka sa video, puputulin 'yung ulo mo," Duterte said.

"Kung ganun din naman, binigyan ko naman kayo [ng firearms], use it to kill the enemies of the state. Ubusin ninyo, patayin niyo 'yang mga p*t*ng*n*ng 'yan. At 'pag na-corner kayo, 'yung spare magazine, 'yung pangatlo, ireserba mo 'yan para sa'yo. At kung ikaw, na-corner na, 'wag kang mag-surrender," he added.

President Duterte begins speech, talks about providing every soldier a service firearm: it is my gift, regalo ko sa sundalo

— Pia Gutierrez (@pia_gutierrez) January 13, 2020

Duterte also assured the Marines that the government will take care of their families should they die on duty.

"Wag kayong matakot. Kung sakali, ako ang bahala. I will see to it that your family will survive, and I will see to it that your children will have good education," he said.

During his speech, the President also called birthday celebrants on stage and gave them P50,000 each. - with reports from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News