NCRPO chief wants cops to be fit and trim

MANILA, Philippines - In a bid to keep policemen in the National Capital Regional Police Office physically fit and trim, NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales will personally supervise the conduct of the 2010 first semester graded physical fitness test for all cops in Metro Manila.

Rosales said he wants to supervise the GPFT for himself to emphasize his resolve to ensure that every police of NCRPO is physically fit to keep up with the rigors of police work. “Being physically fit is not an option in the police service. It is a responsibility. A police officer must not just swear that he will do his job well, he must see to it that his overall physical condition enables him to accomplish what his duty demands of him by maintaining a healthy living habit,” said Rosales.

He said that having good physical health translates to better performance at work and projects a positive outlook on the way an individual police carry himself while on duty.

Police Commissioned Officers or those with rank from Inspector  (lieutenant) to Senior Superintendent (colonel) will take the GPFT at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City starting May 25, and will last up to June 2. The Non-Commissioned Officers or enlisted personnel will take the test in their respective police districts. However, Rosales directed the sending of teams of GPFT facilitators from another police district to supervise the performance of every policeman to avoid familiarity with the supervisors and remove speculations that some are lax in implementing the set standard.

The GPFT is composed of sets of physical exercise like pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, 100-meter dash and road run (one, two, or three kilometer run, depending on the age of the performer). It is established to provide minimum standards on the amount of physical activities that a policeman must pass to be considered fit and able for active police work.

The activities included in the GPFT approximates some of the strenuous circumstances a policeman would face on a daily basis such as running after a fleeing felon, pounding an eight-hour patrol beat, conducting reconnaissance in rugged terrains, or taking part in quelling a mob during a Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) operation.

Subject to attrition

During the last 2009 Second Semester GPFT in NCRPO, from the total personnel strength of 15,010 policemen, 13,022 (86.76 percent) had undertaken the test. From those who took the exam, 12,668 (97.3 percent) passed while 218 (1.67 percent) failed. NCRPO Health Service did not allow 1,188 personnel from taking the GPFT because 312 of them are already retiring within the year and 876 due to different health problems. Another 800 failed to take the test for various reasons. Those who were not present during their scheduled test, or suffering from health problem or have failed to take for some other reasons were investigated. A total of 57 Police Commissioned Officers and 242 Police Non-Commissioned Officers are now facing Pre-Charge Evaluation for their failure to take the GPFT.

Based on PNP Circular No. 2006-003, uniformed PNP personnel could be subject to attrition for: failure to take the physical fitness test for four consecutive times due to medical/physical reasons notwithstanding the approval of a request to take the test; or failure to pass the physical fitness test for four consecutive times; or failure to take two consecutive semi-annual physical fitness test without justifiable reasons; or failure to meet the minimum aggregate passing standard for four consecutive semi-annual physical fitness test.