MANILA - The country's top cop on Wednesday backed the justice department's move to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army as terrorist organizations.

• Justice dept. wants CPP-NPA tagged 'terrorist org'

"They had it coming. Ang dami na nilang na talagang acts of terror--mga panununog. Imbes na gaganda yung ekonomiya ng isang lugar, ng barangay sinusunog nila yung heavy equipments ng mga gumagawa ng kalsada, gumagawa ng tulay dahil daw hindi nagbibigay ng taxation nila, revolutionary tax kuno," Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa told reporters.

Dela Rosa on the DOJ petition to declare CPP-NPA as 'terrorist organization': They had it coming | via @maan_macapagal pic.twitter.com/T5y7yteldA

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) February 21, 2018

He said the torching of equipment prevents development in provincial areas and keeps people poor.

"Gusto nilang maghirap parati ang Pilipino para meron silang mare-recruit to their side. Yun ang purpose nila. May maniniwala ba sa kanila pag maganda na ang buhay ng Pilipino? Wala na. They will lose their significance, their relevance," he said.

With a terrorist tag, Dela Rosa said authorities' hunt for the communist movement's members would be simpler and quicker.

The Department of Justice on Wednesday filed the proscription petition before the Manila Regional Trial Court in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order.

Duterte in November last year terminated peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the communist group's negotiating team, amid supposed attacks by communist rebels against government troops.

• Duterte signs proclamation cancelling peace talks with Reds

He subsequently signed a proclamation declaring the CPP-NPA as a terror organization using the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 as basis. - report from Maan Macapagal, ABS-CBN News

• Duterte declares CPP-NPA as terror group