MANILA – to enforce discipline and improve physical fitness in the police force, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III has warned that police officers who fail to meet standard weight requirements within a year will be dismissed from service.
Quoting Section 30 of Republic Act No. 6975, or the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, Torre emphasized that uniformed personnel “must weigh not more or less than five kilograms of the standard weight corresponding to his or her height, age, and sex.”
“So ibig sabihin, kung may standard weight and height, hindi ka dapat sobra ng five [kilos], hindi ka mababa,” Torre explained in an interview with DZBB radio.
Under existing PNP rules, overweight officers are given six months to a year to bring their weight within acceptable limits. Failure to comply within that period will result in administrative separation.
“After one year, may [there will be] separation from the service,” Torre said.
He clarified, however, that officers with medical issues may be considered for “complete disability discharge” or reassigned to desk duties.
“We’ll consult with the Napolcom (National Police Commission) regarding that matter. Pwede naman [that may be possible] actually,” he added.
Torre, who assumed leadership of the PNP earlier this month, stressed that physical fitness is a reflection of discipline and professionalism in the police force, and that every officer must be a model of health and readiness./PN
