Dela Rosa orders new Highway Patrol Group head to improve image

July 11, 2017

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said Tuesday he wants the new Highway Patrol Group (HPG) head to improve  the reputation of his office as people who want to collect money. Dela Rosa said this perception by civilians of HPG officers is slowly fading. "The trademark of Highway Patrol to the civilians is ‘here comes the "buwaya" in the highway’. I can feel that this is slowly fading, that trademark and they are performing their job very well", Dela Rosa said. He said Chief Superintendent Arnel Escobal, the new HPG chief, must continue the achievements of  his predecessor, Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola, who will become the new Bicol region police director. Dela Rosa said "He (Escobal) is a lawyer. I expect him to continue what General Gardiola done on the discipline". Dela Rosa said there are only few cases of Highway Patrol Group officers involved in extortion and that is a good sign. "Their accomplishments are very good: the recovered carnap vehicles. They caught big syndicates in rent sangla scam and that is good", he said. Dela Rosa said he signed the dismissal of around 80 policemen. (Alanna Ambi/DMS)