CEBU, Philippines — Police Regional Office-7 regional director Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan expressed his support for the directive of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III to enforce a weight limit on overweight police officers, saying that the one-year timeframe given by Torre is already ample time for the compliance of the weight standard.
“Binibigyan naman sila ng ample time para mag reduce ng weight. Sabi ng ating chief PNP na they are given one year to reduce (and) to shape up and I think that is fair enough… Kung ikaw ay overweight (at) kung ikaw ay obese, you have one year para ma-achieve ang ideal weight,” he said.
It was previously reported that Torre warned overweight police officers to lose weight or they will be kicked out from the PNP, stressing the importance of implementing physical fitness standards among their ranks.
Torre also cited the Section 30 (i) of the Republic Act 6975 as the legal basis, outlining the general qualifications for a police officer.
The law states that police officers “must weigh not more or less than five kilograms of the standard weight corresponding to his or her height, age, and sex.”
In an interview with the media last Thursday afternoon, Maranan said that a 34-inch waist line limit will be enforced, noting the importance of being “physically fit” as members of the police force.
“Gusto natin ang ating kapolisan (ay) maayos ang pangangatawan at malusog sapagkat ang demand ng trabaho namin bilang (mga) alagad ng batas ay talagang kailangang ‘physically fit’ ka at kailangang nakakatakbo ka, nahahabol mo yung kriminal, at nagagawa mo ang mga strenuous na bagay na dapat gawin ng isang pulis,” Maranan told the reporters.
Maranan also said that their job as police officers is not easy, emphasizing the need to use their physical strength and power.
“Yung pang-aaresto ng kriminal ay hindi madaling gawin. Hindi ‘yan parang nanghuhuli ng paru-paro. So, kailangang gagamitan mo ng puwersa, gagamitan mo ng lakas ng katawan at sa ganon masudyo mo ‘yung hinuhuli mo, maaresto mo, (at) malagyan mo ng posas,” he said.
Maranan also reiterated Torre’s encouragement for the police authorities to engage in various kinds of sports, including swimming, basketball, golf, among others at 3 P.M. onwards every Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Asked regarding the number of PNP personnel in the region with weight concerns, Maranan said that he doesn’t have the exact data yet. (CEBU NEWS)