MANILA, Philippines?For 23-year old Caesar Ian Binucal, joining the police force is not just a profession but a way of serving the country.

?I can serve my country better in the Philippine National Police,? Binucal said, adding that he chose to apply at the Philippine National Police Academy rather than the Philippine Military Academy because of the PNP?s ?community outreach? thrust.

?The PNP is the implementing arm of the national government. It reaches out to the community and we have more connections with the different national territories,? Binucal told INQUIRER.net.

Binucal leads the 198 graduates of PNPA ?Mabikas? Class 2010. A native of Maragondon, Cavite, Binucal is a son of tricycle driver Agapito and housewife Hermelina.

Binucal first studied Electrical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines but did not earn his degree after he chose to apply at the PNPA.

Inspired by his father, who was once an enlisted personnel of the Philippine Navy, and his policeman-uncle, Binucal said he decided to join the police force to be able to serve his country.

Binucal said that he after his graduation on Thursday, he would sign up to join the elite police unit Special Action Force (SAF).

?I am inspired by our military men who fight continuously for our country. I also want to contribute to help stop the problem of terrorism,? Binucal said.

When asked what his message was to his fellow graduates, Binucal said, ?We will be facing reality once we step out of the classroom but we must not be disheartened. We must serve the country to our fullest capacity.?

He added that he would do everything he could to help cleanse the image of the PNP, which has been marred with controversies including alleged rub outs, the Maguindanao massacre, and issues of corruption.

?I will try my best to apply everything I?ve learned here at the academy to avoid any irregularities,? Binucal said.

The graduation ceremonies of the PNPA ?Mabikas? Class 2010 will be held at the PNPA in Camp General Mariano Castaneda in Silang, Cavite with Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno as the guest of honor and speaker.

The 198 cadets will finish with the ranks of Inspector and will be deployed to the PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The PNPA is an education and training institution under the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), an attached agency of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Of the 198 graduates, 159 will join the PNP, 21 will join the BJMP, and 18 will join the BFP. The graduating cadets consist of 159 males and 39 females.

The other top 10 graduates are: Cadet First Class Mark Antony Aningalan of San Pablo City, Laguna; Cadet First Class Rovie Ann Dulay Noe from Aringay, La Union; Melissa Boaquina Silva of Naga City; Abdul Khayr Modal Ammad of Zamboanga City; Peter Glen Deiparine Ipong of Digos City; William Ladawan Facsoy of Baguio City; Joseph Tiezo Llamas of Daraga, Albay; Gechris Mantaring Abanilla of Lobo, Batangas; and Jennifer Besabe Baron of Naga City.