President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday evening said that communists no longer exist in this day and age.

The president made a remark during a press conference in Davao City, following his return from an official visit to Japan.

Asked about the Philippines' renewed relations with Russia, which was known for its socialist government, Duterte said communism is a thing of the past.

"Hoy! Wala nang komunista! That is an ideology that is long gone," the president said.

(Hey! Communists no longer exist. That is an ideology that is long gone.)

"Wala nang komunista ngayon," Duterte added. "The communist party is just for control, para hindi sasabog. There are billions of them. Kung sabihin mo na sa commune na magtrabaho tayo lahat, those were the propaganda days of the Americans during the Cold War."

(Communists no longer exist today. The communist party is just for control, so that they would remain intact. There are billions of them. If you say that we're going to work in a commune, those were the propaganda days of the Americans during the Cold War.)

Duterte, however, said in August that he subscribes to the socialist ideology and that he is friends with members of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

• READ: Duterte on communists: Kaibigan kami

"Ito namang mga komunista, kaibigan kami. They are socialist but they are Communist Party of the Philippines. I am just socialist in my dimension kasi anak ako ng mahirap. I hate government and anyone oppressing the people," he said.

(These communists, they are my friends. They are socialist but they are Communist Party of the Philippines. I am just socialist in my dimension because I am a son of poor parents. I hate government and anyone oppressing the people.)