The Philippine National Police (PNP) clarified that it did not hire or officially designate any fitness coach to lead a weight loss program for its personnel, following public attention surrounding social media personality and motivational speaker Rendon Labador’s involvement in a recent fitness activity.
In a memorandum dated June 21 and signed by Major General Roderick Augustus Alba, Director of the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR), it was emphasized that Police Chief General Nicolas Torre III did not authorize any individual, including Labador, to serve as the official fitness instructor for the national police.
“In this regard, PNP personnel are directed to refrain from sharing misleading content. The Chief PNP has not authorized any fitness instructor to primarily lead a weight loss program for the entire PNP. Social media officers should exercise caution in posting and sharing content to avoid spreading misinformation that may cause confusion,” the memorandum read.
According to Alba, the 93-day fitness challenge involving Labador was organized solely by the Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG), not the PNP as a whole.
As such, the activity was limited in scope and did not represent an official directive from Torre.
Despite Labador’s claim in media interviews that he would supervise regular workouts for police officers, the PNP stressed that participation in any physical fitness program remains voluntary.
Meanwhile, regular Tuesday and Thursday physical activities for personnel will continue, with officers free to choose how they wish to achieve their fitness goals.
Torre previously warned that officers who fail to meet physical fitness standards may face a “graceful exit” from the service.
The clarification came after Labador was seen leading a workout session at Camp Crame on June 19.
His participation sparked assumptions that he was tapped by the PNP to spearhead a force-wide fitness initiative.
