Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures while speaking during a late night news conference at the presidential palace in Manila, Philippines January 30, 2017. Ezra Acayan, Reuters

MANILA (UPDATE) - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) "spoiled brats," further heightening the tension between the tough-talking leader and the country's Maoist rebels.

“Ito namang mga komunista… They are spoiled brats. Akala mo sila yung nasa gobyerno kung mag-make ng demands," Duterte said in a speech in Malacanang.

(These communists… they are spoiled brats. They think they are the ones in government, how demanding they are.)

“Ang yayabang pa magsalita. Ako nagho-hold lang ako. I had to swallow my being humble. Okay lang, pero sumobra itong -- pagka ganoon, fight tayo.”

(They are too conceited. I’m just restraining myself. I had to swallow my being humble. That’s okay, but they are too much. If that’s the case, then let’s just fight.)

Over the weekend, Duterte scrapped the government's peace talks with the CPP-NPA following the collapse of the unilateral ceasefire declarations by the two sides.

The collapse of the truce stemmed from the government’s failure to release about 400 political prisoners detained on various charges and alleged NPA attacks on soldiers.

Duterte had been firm on not releasing all political prisoners without a final peace agreement, a decision that did not sit well with the communists.

The series of clashes between government troops and communist guerrillas was also identified as another reason for the ceasefire breakdown.

Duterte lamented that some of his soldiers were killed despite the truce.

“Wala pang February 10 pinagpapatay na nila ang mga sundalo ko, pati pulis. Ay anak ng....,” Duterte said, referring to the last day of effectivity of the communist party-issued ceasefire.

“Wala na, sige. Gyera tayo. Then peace is not possible during our generation. I’m sorry. I’m not about to talk to them again.”

The president's statement is the latest in a series of stinging remarks since the collapse of the unilateral truce last week.

He has since described the communist rebels as terrorists, and has ordered the arrest of National Democratic Front (NDF) consultants temporarily freed for the peace talks.

“Once they arrive here, I’ve alerted everbody. Pati ang immigration, they will be arrested and they should go back to prison.”