MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) A request by members of the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) Task Force on Anti-Illegal Drugs to be relieved en masse has been rejected by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez who also ordered them to “stay put,” a senior official of the agency said.

Quoting the task force, Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño said the members “cannot work anymore.”

“They said they cannot work anymore, especially working under a cloud of doubt,” Zuño said on Friday, referring to allegations raised by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that members of the task force had been bribed by relatives of the so-called “Alabang Boys” to recommend dismissal of drug charges filed against the suspects.

But Zuño said Gonzalez “did not give any reason why he wants us to stay put.”

Zuño admitted that the morale of the prosecutors was very low.

"The task force members are hoping that the Secretary's decision is only temporary," Zuño said.

The Alabang Boys are Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson, scions of prominent families arrested late last year by the PDEA.

The request for relief, which Zuño said was relayed to him Friday morning, followed an earlier offer to resign by State Prosecutor John Resado, the task force member who recommended the dismissal of the case against Brodett, Joseph and Tecson.

Senior State Prosecutor Philip Kimpo, chairman of the task force, said there were about 20 members in the group.