Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo junked the invitation of Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa for priests to join the revamped anti-narcotics campaign.

Pabillo said he sees the invitation as a propaganda for authorities to "use" the priests' presence in "Oplan Tokhang" (knock and plead) operations.

"Propaganda lang naman yun. May simbahan tapos babarilin nila, kung sino-sinong tao ang babarilin. Tapos sisisihin kami na kasama kami sa programa? At gagamitin lang kami... hindi kami sasama," Pabillo said.

(That is only propaganda. There is Church presence and then they will shoot people and then put the blame on us because we are included in the program? We will only be used...We will not join.)

"Sa ganyang mga title pa lang hindi ako naniniwala na yan ay magiging mapayapa. Double-barrel? Nakakaduda sa title pa lang na binibigay nila," Pabillo said.

(Those titles alone make me doubt whether that will be peaceful. The titles they give are doubtful already.)

Dela Rosa made the call on Sunday as he gave the assurance that new policies will be in place to prevent the killing of drug suspects.

"We encourage the participation of the Church. Kung sino yung Church leaders sa area, yung representatives nila, iniimbitahan nating sumama sa Tokhang para makita talaga nila na ito ay ginagawa dahil sa concern natin sa mga kababayan nating nalulong sa droga at hindi ito maabuso," Dela Rosa told radio DZMM.

(We invite Church leaders in the area and their representatives to participate in Tokhang so they can see that we are doing this out of concern for our fellow countrymen addicted to drugs, and ensure that the operations will not be abused.)

Instead of inviting priests to join the operation, Pabillo said the government should instead stop Tokhang operations completely.

"Hindi na mag-tokhang. Hanap ng ibang paraan. Hanapin talaga yung mga sources. Magpakita ng mga sources dahil yan yung mayayaman.... i-apprehend nila ayon sa batas," he said.

(Don't do tokhang anymore. Find other ways. Find the real sources. Show sources because they are the rich ones...apprehend them according to law.)

Pabillo also urged the PNP to cleans its ranks first and go after politicians linked to illegal drugs.

"May pinakita silang factories noon. Sino ang hinuli nila?... linisin muna nila kapulisan nila. Dahil maraming pulis involved dyan. At may mga pulitiko involved dyan. Yan muna ang linisin nila," he said.

(They showed factories before. Who did they arrest? Clean the ranks of the police force first because many policemen are involved there.)

The PNP on Monday retook leadership of President Duterte's anti-drug war. Dela Rosa said Oplan Tokhang operations will now be conducted only by town police chiefs, station commanders and precinct head.