MANILA, Philippines -- A cop's life is filled with literal aches and pains, thus a foundation has taken it upon itself to provide members of the Eastern Police District and their dependents with free medical and dental services.

Last Friday, the Dalaw Kalinga (Care Mission) Foundation set up booths offering free medical, dental and optometry consultation, as well as reflexology and other forms of therapy, at the EPD headquarters in Pasig City.

?It's also our duty to always be fit and healthy, and we're very grateful to Dalaw Kalinga for this mission. As you know, not all of our policemen have access to good health services,? said the EPD director, Chief Supt. Benjardi Mantele.

He said the medical and dental mission also came at a good time, considering how busy the police force had been the past few months.

?Even before the election gun ban, we've been really busy with our operations and peacekeeping efforts,? he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A pharmacy also gave free medicines to the police officers, their families, and members of civilian and nongovernmental organizations based in the city.

The day-long medical and dental mission conducted by the group headed by Marikina councilor Samuel Ferriol had the target of serving 1,500 people, Mantele said.