Bacolod City Police Director, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, yesterday said they have started their weight loss program called “Hataw” in line with the national program of the Philippine National Police.

De la Paz hired taebo and aerobics instructors to assist them in calisthenics and physical exercises.

He said they have already identified the obese policemen, who comprise about 5 percent of the total number of BCPO personnel, and mandated them to regularly attend the “Hataw” exercises at the city police headquarters every Thursday.

Obese policemen cannot perform their duties like chasing thieves easily because they are overweight and are giving the public the negative impression that they are drunkards or gluttonous, De la Paz said.

Aside from that, De la Paz said, a slimmer waistline and a lighter weight equates to better health and being safe from dreaded diseases like heart attacks and strokes.

Police Regional Office-6 Director Chief Supt. Cepriano Querol Tuesday warned obese policemen to exercise and lose weight or they will be recommended for an eight-week rigid physical training. However they have not yet received the guidelines for the implementation of this program, he said.

Records from the Philippine National Police Health Services show that of 6,253 policemen in Camp Crame, only 2,376 or 38 percent have normal weight, while the rest are obese.*APN

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