Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II

MANILA - An indirect attempt to destroy President Rodrigo Duterte.

This was how Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II described the news of a kidnap-slay of a South Korean national which involved police officers. The incident has fueled calls for Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Ronald dela Rosa to resign.

Speaking to cops at the national headquarters Monday, Aguirre described the incident as "only an isolated incident" that was being used to tarnish the reputation of the police force and in turn undermine public support for Duterte.

The president earlier pledged to back PNP in light of his war on drugs and criminality.

"Mayroong nagsasabi na ostensibly ang binibira rito ay ating Chief PNP ngunit ang latay nito ay sa ating Pangulong Duterte. Hindi magawang siraan ang pangulo dahil napakalaki ng suporta niya, kaya ang ginagawa ay sirain ang PNP," Aguirre said.

"Pag nasira nila si General Bato, pag nasira ang katatagan ng PNP, masisira ang tiwala at katatagan ng tao sa ating pangulo," he added.

Aguirre however called on the police's main crime investigation unit, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to probe the case.

"Paigtingin nyo ang malalim na pagimbestiga sa krimeng ito para matatagan ang ating pulisya," he said

The Justice chief added that he did not agree with calls for Dela Rosa's resignation.

"Hindi maaaring sa ngayong panahon ay magbitiw ang ating chief PNP. Alam nating ang ating laban sa droga ay simbolo si General Dela Rosa," he said.

President Duterte already turned down Dela Rosa's offer to resign Sunday night during the police chief's birthday celebration.

At a later press conference, Dela Rosa declined to confirm Aguirre's statement about an alleged plan to use the kidnap-slay case against him and Duterte.

He said they would focus on investigating the case first and will dig deeper if they uncover links to such a plot.

"That did not come from me. That statement came from SOJ [Secretary of Justice]. Basta kami ngayon we will focus our investigation doon sa facts of the crime," Dela Rosa said.