A new memorandum requires members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to maintain their weight before they would be allowed to undertake further studies for promotion.
A new memorandum requires members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to maintain their weight before they would be allowed to undertake further studies for promotion.According to PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa that he was about to sign the memorandum, which specifies a certain body mass index (BMI) requirement.
“Pipirmahan ko na ‘yung (memorandum) na kapag hindi ka compliant sa BMI (requirement), you will be denied schooling, na up until you comply to the BMI requirements, that’s the only time na (that) you can go to schooling,” he said in a press conference.
BMI refers to a person’s weight divided by the square of his/her height — a high BMI can indicate high body fatness.
Gamboa said that aside from performing their duties, policemen also have the responsibility to take care of their health.
“It’s very important. We want all policemen to internalize itong BMI requirement natin (this BMI requirement). It’s initiated to introduce a healthy lifestyle and inculcate personal responsibility on fitness. The BMI compliance is also implemented side by side with suggested diet plans,” he said.
When prodded by a reporter if his order also covers generals, Gamboa said he and other high-ranking police officials are included — down to the lowest-ranking police non-commissioned officers.
He even ordered an overweight general to lose weight but did not disclose the name of the general.
“I know who you are referring to. He has a particular target. I reminded him last week and he has started having yogurt,” Gamboa said in a mix of English and Filipino, eliciting laughter from members of the media.
When asked if he was referring to National Capital Region Police Office acting director Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, Gamboa said in a text message: “No comment.”
Gamboa himself admitted he had some catching up to do, as he is four pounds over his ideal weight of 172 pounds.
Further, every Tuesday and Thursday, policemen are required to participate in an aerobic exercise led by Gamboa in Camp Crame, adding that his men to also use the PNP grandstand for exercise.
The intensified weight loss program in the PNP is in compliance with the directive of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, putting emphasis on physical fitness for police officers.
In his speech during the flag-raising rites at Camp Crame, Secretary Año stressed that police officers should always be physically strong and fit to meet the demands of their job.
“As police, we need to have good health. How can we run after criminals if we are not physically fit?” Secretary Año said.
Sinas, on the other hand, said he is willing to step down from his post over his weight, adding that he has no issue with the directive of Gamboa for overweight cops to lose weight.
“If they relieve me because of that, I have no problem. I will get out,” he told reporters in an ambush interview after a press briefing on security preparations for the Black Nazarene procession at the Quiapo Church in Manila.
“That’s the policy, we have to follow,” he said.
PNP personnel has regularly been reminded to stay fit since Senator Panfilo Lacson first took the helm at the PNP.
Senator Lacson had required the policemen to maintain a waistline of 34 inches.
Another former PNP chief who is also a senator now, Ronald Dela Rosa, said a bulging stomach indicates poor police training.
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