REGIONAL Training Center (RTC)-Northern Mindanao Director Edison Revita said last Saturday, January 18, that police recruits will not be able to take oath if they are obese.

Revita said that at present, they have more than 600 police recruits. These police recruits should have achieved an ideal weight before their oathtaking.

"Yung mga nangangarap na magpulis, start na nila maging physically fit at tsaka yung ideal weight, factor yun kasi kasama pa rin sa promotion yung BMI (Body Mass Index)," Revita said.

"Kasi kung titingnan mo, kung recruit ka pa lang obese ka na... so dapat start na lang nito recruit ka, pag graduate mo mag schooling ka, weight pa rin, pag magpa-promote ka, titingnan pa rin yung BMI," he added.

Revita said maintaining the ideal weight should be a lifestyle for not just the policemen but also the recruits in order to be physically fit to do their job.

"It should be a lifestyle na to ang pag maintain ng weight namin na mula pag take oath mo hanggang maka graduate ka hanggang maka retire ka, dapat ideal weight ka pa rin. Its for their own benefit naman," Revita said.

"So health-wise, magiging healthy ang police. So if you're healthy, makaka-trabaho ka ng maayos," he added.

Arman Corales, one of the RTC-Northern Mindanao recruits, said he is confident that he can maintain his ideal weight until he can graduate.

Corales, at present, weighs 62 kilograms. He said if his weight reaches 68 kilograms, that is when he is overweight.

A new memorandum requires members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to maintain their weight before they would be allowed to undertake further studies for promotion.

Revita said the new policy on BMI is challenging even to them as they have to "walk the talk," and are obliged to reach their ideal weight.

BMI refers to a person's weight divided by the square of his/her height. A high BMI can indicate high body fatness.