The parents of an Australian man arrested in the Philippines capital during a drug raid have vowed to support their son.

Damian John Berg and Canadian man Jeremy Eaton, both 34, were arrested in Makati, Manila, on Monday during a drug raid in which ecstasy pills with an estimated value of A$5,500 were allegedly found.

Berg, who moved to Makati to work as a contract administrator, said the drugs were not his and he had been framed.

“I noticed something else near the side table, so I flushed it down the toilet, down there, and then I got rid of another bag,” the ABC reported him saying after his arrest.

“I actually texted the individual and asked ... ‘Why bring this shit here?’ ”

Berg’s father, Geoff, has told the Adelaide Advertiser the news of his arrest had hit him and his wife, Sandra, “like a ton of bricks”.

They have been in touch with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which has confirmed that Berg was in custody and being treated fine.

“As a family we’ll support him as much as we can,” Geoff said. “We love you. Hang in there.

“At some stage we’d like to get over there to see him. Any assistance in that regard would be great.”

Police said cases against the two men for drug supply were being prepared. The arrest comes as Philippine police had vowed to crack down on illegal drugs.