Senator Alan Peter Cayetano

MANILA - Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said having rogue cops in the Philippine National Police should not stop the government’s war on drugs.

In a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in the United States, Cayetano said the Philippine government and even President Rodrigo Duterte, have acknowledged that there are erring and abusive law enforcers but this should not be a reason to stop the entire drug campaign in general.

"The war on drugs is not a war to kill criminals," Cayetano said.

He compared rogue cops to corrupt personnel in the Bureau of Internal Revenue and argued that cleansing within the institution is the better alternative.

"When tax collecting agencies become rigged with corruption, we did not tell them to stop collecting taxes, but we cleansed the agencies," he said.

Duterte lambasted the country’s police force following a spate of controversies on its “Oplan Tokhang” (knock and plead) operations, the latest of which is the death of a South Korean businessman inside Camp Crame.

Upon orders of the President, PNP Chief, Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa disbanded the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group of the police. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is the only government unit allowed to execute the drug war.

‘NOT A VIOLENT MAN’

While in the US, Cayetano also defended his former running mate.

"President Duterte is being portrayed in the international community as a 'violent' man. But a 'violent' man does not want peace for anyone," he said noting that Duterte is working to achieve peace in the Philippines.



"Our President is doing everything to make the peace talks successful, achieve lasting peace, and win the war against illegal drugs," Cayetano said.

He explained that the anti-drug campaign is not a war against life but a war to fight for the lives of all Filipinos.



Duterte has been repeatedly criticized by human rights advocates for his bloody war on drugs which left hundreds dead.