MANILA - "Treacherous" and "passé."

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque had this to say about the communist movement Saturday, saying in a press conference that its causes are "out of tune."

"Passé na at out of tune na ang pinaglalaban ng CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippine- New People's Army)," Roque said.

"Iniwan na nga sila ng China. Kapitalista na 'yung mga idol nila sa bansa ni Mao Tse Tung. Laos na 'yan. Kailangan mag-move on na din sila," he said.

Roque's tough rhetoric against Asia's longest running communist insurgency came a week after the government formally terminated peace negotiations following a series of rebel attacks against state forces.

• Duterte signs proclamation cancelling peace talks with Reds

"Kaya nga natigil ang usapang pangkapayapan... habang nakikipag-usap - na bayad pa nga ng gobyerno ng Norway 'yung mga gastos doon sa Norway kapag may pag-uusap pangkapayapaan - pero dito, target pa rin ng target ng sundalo," Roque said.

"Usaping traydor ang nangyari diyan," he added.

Roque added that the communist group's model of governance and development was also antiquated.

"Sila, they seek to encircle the cities from the countryside. Hello? Ang mga modelo ngayon, i-develop mo ang countryside para magkaroon ng pangkalahatang pag-unlad," Roque said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said the NPA's proposal of a "coalition government" was another reason why the initially promising peace talks fell through.

"That is why I said in the previous days, I cannot give you what I don’t own and, certainly, a coalition with the Republic of the Philippines is pure nonsense," the President said.

• Duterte says peace talks with Reds fell through due to 'coalition gov't'

On Wednesday, Duterte ordered cops and soldiers to shoot armed NPA rebels they encounter, assuring state forces of protection in case issues related to human rights are raised.

• Duterte orders cops, soldiers to shoot armed NPA rebels

“We are now on the offensive, that is why I said kayong mga pulis, [practice] just a little bit of vigilance,” Duterte said.

Duterte gave the order after a series of rebel attacks against the police and the military.

• Is the Left ready for all-out war?

Roque said he is confident government troops could easily suppress communist forces holed up in rural areas.

"Kung ang ISIS (Islamic State) natalo natin, sila pa kaya? Hindi naman ako sa nagyayabang pero kung ang world terrorist na ISIS, napakitang kaya talunin ng ating gobyerno, sila pa kaya?" Roque said in reference to government's victory over ISIS-linked terrorists who laid siege on Marawi City.