Fitness vlogger no longer part of PNP weight loss drive

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has cut ties with fitness vlogger Rendon Labador amid a mix-up in connection with a weight loss program by a unit of the law enforcement agency. —INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has cut ties with fitness vlogger Rendon Labador amid a mix-up in connection with a weight loss program by a unit of the law enforcement agency.

The Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG) initially tapped Labador to lead a 93-day weight loss program, but a June 21 PNP memorandum stressed that the vlogger was not tasked with spearheading a police force-wide initiative.

“I understand na parang naputol na yung engagement ng PCADG sa kanya. That is what (Director) General (Marvin) Saro mentioned to me when I called him the other day,” PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in a briefing on Tuesday.

“According to General Saro, there was a misunderstanding in terms of the engagement with the concerned individual. Probably, na-excite lang siguro si Rendon nung magkausap sila, and the topic was brought up,” Fajardo added.

(According to General Saro, there was a misunderstanding in terms of the engagement with the concerned individual. Probably, Rendon was just excited when they talked and the topic was brought up.)

Despite the “misunderstanding,” Fajardo said the PNP welcomed Labador’s input in its weight loss initiative.

The 93-day program was launched last Friday.

In an interview before the program launch, Labador said he had been approached by Saro to lead the initiative, and he agreed to do it free of charge.

READ: PNP chief issues clarification on fitness coach for weight loss drive

The fitness drive followed a directive from PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III that officers who fail the agency’s physical fitness test twice will undergo retraining and may not be eligible for promotion.

Torre previously reiterated a provision in Republic Act 6975, the law reorganizing the PNP as an attached agency of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

READ: Torre orders cops to have physical fitness program, ‘no mercy’ for testers

Section 30, Paragraph I of the law states that a person “must [weigh] not more or less than five kilograms of the standard weight corresponding to his or her height, age and sex” to be appointed as a member or officer of the PNP./coa