The new chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reminded Monday officers and members of the 1,600-plus strong Eastern Police District (EPD) not to be arrogant and abusive of their powers so as not to diminish people’s trust in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Director Leocadio Salva Cruz Santiago, newly-installed NCRPO chief, also asked the EPD officers and members to continue serving the people by providing quality service to them.

Santiago made the call shortly after the EPD’s 36th founding anniversary celebration held at the EPD quadrangle on Caruncho Avenue, Pasig City. The theme for this year is: “Matatag na Pagkakaisa ng Pambansang Pulisya at Mamamayan, Tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.”

“I urge you (policemen) to remove this kind of thinking (that) just because you are armed, you are uniformed and have the authority…You don’t need to be arrogant,” Santiago said.

“I will expect nothing less from you,” Santiago said, adding that such a call is also directed to other police units in the metropolis.

He said it’s very important for each and every member of the police force to remain committed to the service and avoid tainting their name and the image of the police force so that they will not also be disowned especially by their own relatives.

“At the end of the day (your) service record will catch up with you,” he said.

Santiago, at the same time, ordered policemen and station commanders to make sure that their offices and stations are clean and accessible to the people. He said policemen should also wear proper uniform at all times and always be presentable to the eyes of the public.

“I hope that when I make a surprise visit to your station, it has proper lighting, you are in proper uniform and your offices are clean so that people will not refrain or be afraid to visit and ask for any assistance.”

“This is part of the directive of the Chief PNP to make sure that every station will be clean as part of the transformation drive,” he said.

Santiago also warned policemen not to use his name in their activities and asked them to call his attention about this if there is anybody who will attempt to use his name.

The EPD, which has jurisdiction in the cities of Pasig, Marikina, Mandaluyong and San Juan, has a total of 1,671 police personnel in its fold.

Aside from Santiago, Marikina City Mayor Del R. De Guzman, Senior Supt. Francisco Soria Manalo, the EPD director, the four chiefs of police of the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Marikina, policemen, awardees and members of the private sector attended the program.