Critics of Duterte’s drug war, which has claimed more than 6,000 lives, say he has emboldened corrupt officers with his repeated pledges that he will shield police if they are charged for killing drug suspects. 'Because of the gravity of the charges... if I were Dumlao I'd stay inside [Camp Crame],' says the President, ordering the cop to stay under PNP custody and face the charges against him

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte named Superintendent Rafael Dumlao the mastermind in the abduction and murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo. MANILA: Philippine police are suspending their anti-narcotics operation until they have cleansed their ranks of "scalawags", the chief of the force said on Monday, following the killing of a South Korean businessmen by rogue officers. Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, called it a “cynical PR gesture.”

But stunt or not, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Ronald dela Rosa announced Monday he was dissolving anti-drug units to instead tackle corruption. We no longer have a war on drugs; we now have a war on scalawags.”

Though Duterte previously pledged to eradicate the country’s drug problem by March, on Monday he said he would continue his anti-narcotics offensive to the end of his term in 2022.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte suspends the war on drugs so resources can focus on ridding “corrupt” officers from the Philippine National Police. The cause célèbre is the kidnapping and strangulation of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo last October.