MANILA - Philippine police killed 32 people in "shock and awe" raids aimed at scaring drug traffickers, authorities said Wednesday, after President Rodrigo Duterte admitted to setbacks in his controversial crime war.

The order to temporarily stop the war on drugs, announced by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief director-general Ronald dela Rosa on Monday morning, was prompted by President Rodrigo Duterte’s instruction, given at 3am the same day, directing the police organisation to take “drastic action”.