Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay yesterday welcomed Senior Supt. Cedric Train as new chief of police, replacing Senior Supt. Gilberto Cruz, who goes to the Community Relations Group in Camp Crame.

Train said he has long known Binay, being a member of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines for 20 years.

?Me and Sir Jojo belong [to] the scouting movement. I consider him as a father,? he said; Binay is the Boy Scouts? national president.

Train, former head of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Region 1, is a graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy Class 1984.

?This is the premier city, the country?s financial center. I accept this position, with assurance that I will continue the programs initiated by Gilbert [Cruz] and Integrated Transformation Program of the PNP,? he said.

Presiding over the turnover rites, Metro Manila police chief Leopoldo Bataoil received the National Police colors from Cruz, and passed it on to Train.

?Gilbert touched the lives of many people here in Makati. I wish him luck in his new position where I?m sure he will contribute more to the service,? he said.

Cruz was Makati police chief for five years and five months.

?I will miss the buffet during conferences with the mayor at the city hall and the badminton games,? he quipped. Ferdinand Fabella