MANILA – The Philippine National Police said Tuesday it would embark on an “internal cleansing” next year to purge rogue officers from its ranks, following criticism that its anti-drug campaign focused heavily on neutralizing suspects.

Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa testifies during a Philippine Senate hearing on drug related killings in Pasay city, Metro Manila, December 5, 2016. Erik De Castro, Reuters

Director General Ronald dela Rosa acknowledged criticism from Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, that anti-drug efforts within the police force was “lacking.”

“We’ll have internal cleansing,” Dela Rosa told reporters.

“Simultaneous yung atake ko. Attack in the inside, at saka attack in the outside pero yun lang nakatutuok masyado sa labas. Dito sa loob madami pa, madami pa kami dapat lilinisin. Madami pa din talagang involved sa krimen na pulis,” he said.

(I attack simultaneously, both from the inside and the outside. From within our ranks, there’s a lot we need to clean up. There are many policemen involved in crime.)

“Expect ninyo 2017, more heads will roll sa mga scalawag na pulis,” he said.

(Expect that in 2017, more heads will roll among scalawag policemen.)

Dela Rosa, who is at the forefront of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, said he has achieved an internal target for the surrender of 70 percent of over million drug suspects within six months.