Cops Warned: Lose Weight Or Lose Your Job

Overweight police officers have one year to lose weight or they will be kicked out from the Philippine National Police.

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III gave the warning on Tuesday, June 17, as he stressed his seriousness in implementing physical fitness standards among their ranks.

“After one year, there will be a separation from the service,” Torre said over dzBB.

He cited Republic Act No. 6975, or the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act, which stated that police officers must weigh not more or less than five kilograms of the standard weight of their height, age and sex.

For those with medical conditions, Torre said they are looking at two options – either complete disability discharge or be transferred to administrative duties.

He said they will consult the National Police Commission on the disposition of police officers with medical conditions.

Losing weight is one of Torre’s directives after he became the 31st chief of the police force, covering fellow senior police officials and the lowest patrolman and patrolwoman.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo earlier said Torre’s order is rooted in his belief that physically fit police officers show there is discipline in the police force.

“It is incumbent upon every police officer to maintain a physical appearance acceptable for a police officer,” Fajardo said.

Fajardo said police officers should start looking at their body mass index, which is computed by dividing a person’s weight in kilos by the height in meters squared.

She said Torre is leaving it up to police officers on the exercises they are going to undertake to lose weight, noting the medical conditions of some police officers.

“The directive does not dictate how you are going to lose weight, but of course, we will give considerations,” Fajardo said.

More heads will roll

After eight chiefs of police in Metro Manila were relieved from their posts, Torre warned other police commanders will suffer the same fate if they fail to follow his five-minute response time policy.

Torre said he already called the attention of two provincial directors who failed to comply with his five-minute rule in responding to peace and order problems and has declared the positions vacant for applicants.

“So if we are able to choose a replacement, we will relieve the current sitting officials and replace with new ones,” Torre told reporters.

Torre did not disclose the provinces where the two police directors are assigned, noting it is not his habit to humiliate erring PNP officers in public.

“They will have a chance to cope up and then maybe wait for another opportunity to be given a commander’s position,” he said.

Torre earlier said he admonished three of their provincial directors in Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Negros for failing the five-minute response time during simulation exercises.

While he is open-minded about certain areas wherein the five-minute response time policy is not applicable, Torre believes it can be done in other parts of the country.

“When I tried it myself, it can be done. Why can’t others? So we will remove commanders who cannot do it,” he said, citing his experience as former head of the Quezon City Police District.

At a meeting in Malacañang on Monday, Marcos witnessed firsthand how law enforcers respond to calls made through hotline 911.

Torre showed Marcos a tablet containing live footage from body cameras worn by police personnel conducting patrols.

“The President observed that police personnel are now capable of responding to emergency calls made through the 911 hotline within five minutes – or even as quickly as three minutes in some cases,” the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.

“The Chief Executive emphasized that this rapid response time reflects ongoing efforts to modernize law enforcement operations and strengthen public safety,” it added. – With Alexis Romero