MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte's warning that he may suspend the writ of habeas corpus to strengthen his anti-narcotics drive does not mean that the government has failed to contain the drug menace, Malacañang insisted Sunday.

"Ito ay hindi nangangahulugan na tayo ay pumalpak sa ating kampanya sa iligal na droga. Ito'y nangangahulugan lamang na nadiskubre ng ating Pangulo ngayon lang na ganito kalaganap ang problema sa iligal na droga," Communication Secretary Martin Andanar maintained.

"Ganon lang po ka-simple 'yun... It's just calling a spade a spade."

(This does not mean that we have failed in our campaign against illegal drugs. This only means that the President has just the discovered the real extent of our problem with illegal drugs. It is that simple. It's just calling a spade a spade.)

The writ of habeas corpus is a legal safeguard against arbitrary arrest and detention.

Duterte warned Friday that he may use his executive power to suspend the writ in order to combat illicit drugs and lawlessness in Mindanao.

He said there are so many narcotics suspects on his wanted list that building cases one by one will take too much time and manpower.

But Andanar clarified that the possible suspension of habeas corpus was "just an idea" being considered by the President.

"Hindi pa naman siya ina-announce 'yung (He has not yet announced the) suspension of writ of habeas corpus. It is just an idea," he said.

In the absence of the writ, police would be able to detain suspects without warrant and hold them for three days without charge.

According to the Constitution, the president may "in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it", suspend the writ for periods of up to 60 days. The same clause allows for Martial Law to be invoked, but Duterte said he would not do that.

The President has resolutely defended his drugs crackdown and chastised anyone who has voiced criticism or concern, among them the European Union, U.S. President Barack Obama and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

-- With a report from Reuters