A Catholic bishop is urging the Philippine National Police to capture the "big fish" in the illegal drug trade after President Rodrigo Duterte vowed there will be no letup in the government's war on narcotics.

In a CBCPNews report, San Jose Bishop Robert Mallari praised the Duterte administration for showing political will in eradicating criminality in the country.

However, the priest also stressed the importance of respecting human rights including those of individuals suspected of being involved in the illegal drug trade.

"I am worried about the degradation of human life, especially of the poor – addicts or pushers they may be – who are not really the ‘big fish’ and who are in the drug business only for survival," the bishop was quoted as saying.

"We pray that the PNP will respect the law, the rights of others, and always consider the absolute value of human life," he added.

According to Philippine Drug Agency (PDEA), there are an estimated 8,000 barangays in the country where drugs are rampant.

Police have logged 240 deaths related to the drug trade since President Duterte took office, although other estimates are higher.

MAP, CHARTS: The Death Toll of the War on Drugs

In his first State of the Nation Address, Duterte said 120,000 people had surrendered to police in the past month, and 70,000 were drug pushers. "The sheer number and problem will drown us," he said.

He also said human rights should not be used as an excuse to shield criminals. "Kung ayaw niyong mamatay, kung ayaw niyong masaktan, huwag kayong umasa sa mga pari at sa human rights. Hindi nakakapigil yan ng kamatayan," he said.

"Kami nagtatrabaho lang. We have a nation to guard. We have billions of people to see that they are healthy. It's a question of drugs, a question of public interest and public order."

He also criticized media for asking for the "big fish" in the drug war, saying most of the drug lords are outside the country.

"They direct the traffic of drugs outside...," he said.

He said drug suspects captured in the country are just 'lieutenants' or delivery boys of narcotic syndicates.

Duterte: 'Wag kayong umasa sa pari at human rights'

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, earlier expressed the need for less violent efforts in fighting crime.

“We understand the difficulties that law-enforcers face, the daily risk to life and limb, but not only civil society but also the Church counts on them for the flourishing of a society where all enjoy the blessings of a regime under laws that are just and institutions that are fair,” he said.

Iligan Bishop Elenito Galido also urged the public to support the Duterte administration’s all-out war against drugs but stressed the need to observe due process of law.

“Fighting the proliferation of drugs, that’s a program that really needs support. But it needs to be done in the good way and with a good process so that people’s lives can be respected," he said.

While the prelate called on Filipinos to cooperate and support the government’s all-out offensive against drug trafficking, he exhorted the public to keep an eye on law enforcement agencies.

Galido stressed the importance of due process where victims’ “dignity, integrity and human rights” are protected.

“We really need investigation at the same time also the strict follow up and hunting down of drug lords, not only the pushers and users who easily turn into vulnerable victims that are get entangled in the problem,” he said in Filipino. With reports by CBCPNews and Reuters