Senator Panfilo Lacson speaks with journalists during a press conference held at the Senate in Pasay City, Metro Manila. Voltaire Domingo, NPPA Images

MANILA - Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday expressed apprehension over the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to draw in the military in his war against illegal drugs.

Lacson, a former police chief, was particularly concerned by Duterte’s order to the military to check on and arrest rogue cops.

"I will stand up against it dahil magkakagulo tayo dahil pag mag-check ng police ang military. We might end up having armed people, legitimate armed forces, na naglalaban-laban,” Lacson said.

"Very dangerous, if I may, my unsolicited advice is mas magandang irethink, i-reconsider ang ganun," said Lacson

Duterte earlier this week ordered the police to cease involvement in the war on drugs.

His order came after the police force was gripped by controversy over the killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo by rogue cops.

The president, furious at some policemen who he said were “corrupt to the core,” also ordered the military to help him in his war on drugs by going after rogue cops.

“Let me reorganize the enforcement diyan sa drugs sa police. In the meantime, they would be arrested and I will order you to arrest them,” Duterte told newly promoted military generals on Tuesday.

“Kung hindi ko kayo ipasok sa laro, patay ako. Walang magtingin diyan sa abusadong pulis eh. The culture of corruption sa pulis, matindi. In the beginning pati mga generals eh.”

Duterte has also ordered the disbanding of the PNP-Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, whose several members were implicated in the abduction and killing of the Korean inside Camp Crame, the police force's headquarters.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has been tapped to lead the war on drugs in the meantime.

“No policemen in this country anywhere is allowed to enforce laws related to the drug campaign. Kasi magamit nila ’yang, palitan nila ‘yang warrant, palitan lang ang pangalan tapos pupunta,” he said.