MANILA - The Philippine Constabulary (PC) may be revived to aid the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in its duty to combat illegal drugs, an official said.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said since Philippine National Police has been ordered to clean its ranks first before engaging in anti-drugs operations, PDEA may be augmented by reactivating the PC.

"It's not yet official, but the forces will be supplemented through another project coming up...it's not yet official as far as I know but the Philippine Constabulary may be reactivated," he said.

Abella said the idea was floated by President Rodrigo Duterte himself, but there are no timelines indicated as of the moment.

The PC was first established in 1901 for the purpose of maintaining peace, law, and order in the various provinces of the Philippine Islands.

It was abolished in the early 90's and was subsequently merged with the Integrated National Police (PC-INP) to form the present Philippine National Police (PNP).

Abella said as of now, the structure of the PC is still uncertain, whether it will be under the Armed Forces of the Philippines or any other agency.

He revealed that the PC's possible revival was not discussed in the recent Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in Malacañang, but may be discussed in preceding meetings.