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MANILA - The Communist Party of the Philippines remains relevant 50 years after it was established, its founder Jose Maria Sison insisted on Wednesday as they celebrate their anniversary.

Sison said the CPP and its armed wing, the New People's Army, continue to lead a "vibrant revolution," as the country "deteriorates" under President Rodrigo Duterte.

"The forces that really made Duterte president were all the oligarchy in his own region... and in Luzon, he has the worst kind of people on his side," he told ANC.

"The Marcoses, the Arroyos, the Estradas, the biggest plunderers, the most corrupt people. So now you have an alliance of the most corrupt oligarchs in power," he added.

Government peace negotiations with the Reds resumed when Duterte assumed office. But it broke down in 2017 as the rebels allegedly continue to attack state troops despite ongoing talks.

Duterte had moved to declare members and sympathizers of the communist rebels as terrorists.

For his part, Sison said the CPP has already fixed the problem of some cadres gone bad He said the communist movement knows how to correct its errors.

Sison claimed that Duterte's real motive in scrapping the peace talks with the communists is to establish a "full-blown fascist dictatorship through his Charter Change scheme."

Despite this, the CPP founder said the communists are always ready to talk peace with any administration as it is always better to achieve their goals through peaceful negotiations.

"The people's war is waged not to glorify and perpetuate revolutionary violence. It is meant to achieve justice. If a president is willing to talk, the revolutionary forces take the chance," he said.