Philippines puts anti-drug operation on hold to tackle rogue police
Philippine police chief Ronald Dela Rosa announces the suspension of drug operations as they focus on cleansing their ranks following the murder of a Korean businessman allegedly by rogue policemen. Samantha Vadas reports.
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President Rodrigo Duterte turning the focus to who he once trusted. The Filipino leader on Monday (January 30) putting his controversial drug-war on hold to tackle corrupt police. Officials saying they want to cleanse their ranks of 'scalawags'. PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF, RONALD DELA ROSA, SAYING: "No more anti-drug operations. We have to focus our efforts towards internal cleansing. And by the time we cleanse our PNP (Philippine National Police), the President will determine that, and he will instruct us to go back to our war on drugs." It comes following the murder of a South Korean businessman - allegedly by rogue policemen. Duterte says about 40 percent of the force are corrupt and are as 'lousy as drug lords'. A change of tune for the president and his staunch support for the police involved in his drug war, even in the face of widespread international criticism over the death toll. Since unleashing a wave of drug-related killings seven months ago more than two thousand people have been killed during police stings. Though it appears the bloody drug war is still far from over with the crackdown expected to resume within a month.