MANILA- Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has tasked newly-installed police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) head, Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal, to dispel the corrupt or "buwaya" image of cops.

Dela Rosa on Tuesday said he expects Escobal to continue the work of his predecessor Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola, who is now the regional director of Bicol police.

WATCH: PNP Chief dela Rosa's marching orders to new HPG Dir CSupt Arnel Escobal | via @maan_macapagal pic.twitter.com/6QAURTG8wN

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) July 11, 2017

"To continue what General Gardiola has done. Importante yung discipline, unti-unti nang nawawala na yung trademark na Highway Patrol from other civilian na 'nandiyan na naman ang mga buwaya sa highway' di ba? Ngayon naramdaman ko dahan-dahan nang nawawala yung trademark na yan," Dela Rosa said.

WATCH: Turnover of Command Ceremony of new PNP-HPG Director Chief Supt Arnel Escobal @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/7lt0Sih3rH

— Maan Macapagal (@maan_macapagal) July 11, 2017

New PNP-HPG Director C/Supt Arnel Escobal is a member of PMA '87 & former Western Visayas Deputy Regional Director for Admin @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/oz3HXmZriG

— Maan Macapagal (@maan_macapagal) July 11, 2017

The PNP chief said he is happy with the performance of HPG personnel under Gardiola, particularly in pushing for the campaign against the "rent-sangla" modus.

"They are performing their job very well. Sana tuloy-tuloy nila. Bihira ka nang makarinig ngayon ng highway patrol na mangongotong. It's a good sign. Maganda 'yung kanilang accomplishment, yung mga narekober na vehicles, at nabuwag na ang malaking sindikato ng rent sangla scam," Dela Rosa said.

Escobal, a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1987, previously served as the Western Visayas deputy regional director for administration.