Senator Panfilo Lacson has a radical solution to cleanse the Philippine National Police: a task force composed of 100 trusted cops that will go after 50,000 scalawag policemen.

Lacson, a former PNP chief under the Estrada administration, revealed that PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa had told him one-third of the 150,000 cops in the organization are "scalawags."

"Ngayon, sabi niya, nasa one-third niyan ang scalawags. Alam mo, 150,000 ang mga pulis...Napaka-complex ng problema," he said.

He said he advised Dela Rosa to form a task force that will focus on internal cleansing. The task force will consist of officers from the intelligence unit, the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, or the Anti-Kidnapping Group, among others.

He said the task force can subject police officers suspected of illegal activities to surveillance and lifestyle checks. This, he said, would be easier than looking into each of the 150,000 cops.

"Kaya ang sabi ko kay Gen. Dela Rosa kahapon at diniin ko pa ito nung dumalaw siya sa office after ng suspension ng hearing. Sabi ko, it’s about time mag-organize ka na ng sarili mong task force na piling pili yung mga tao, maski 100 lang," he said.

"Kumuha siya at mag-form siya ng mga tao na talagang dedicated—yun lang ang gagawin, manghuhuli ng mga pulis," he added.

The PNP has come under fire following the kidnapping and death of a South Korean businessman allegedly at the hands of rogue cops right inside the PNP headquarters.

• Kidnapped South Korean was killed by Filipino cops

Lacson on Thursday showed videos of suspected police officers planting drugs inside a business process outsourcing before conducting a raid.

• CCTV shows cops allegedly planting drugs

The senator urged Dela Rosa not to restrict his investigation on rogue cops in Metro Manila.

"Sabi ko, wag mo lang i-restrict, i-limit sa Metro Manila, pero ang focus mo, tama ka, sa Metro Manila. Andun ang mga salbaheng pulis na walang galang kay [Metro Manila police chief] Director [Oscar] Albayalde. Talagang maraming nangyayari dito," he added.

He said the task would be easy because the PNP already has a list of cops allegedly engaged in illegal activities.

Lacson said he is confident that the PNP will iron itself out under Dela Rosa especially because he has President Rodrigo Duterte's trust.

"Definitely, may pag-asa, at sa ilalim ng liderato ni Chief PNP Dela Rosa, ako may tiwala ako na may pag-asa...Definitely, magbabago at makaka-restore yan. Definitely makaka-recover," he said.