PNP relaunches regular fitness program

The Philippine National Police (PNP) relaunches its regular physical conditioning program, dubbed “Pulisteniks,” at the Camp Crame Grandstand in Quezon City on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (Screengrab from video by PNP/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) relaunched its regular physical conditioning program as part of its bid to ensure that police officers are fit to work.

This came after a directive from PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to strictly observe the legally mandated weight requirement for police officers.

Dubbed “pulisteniks,” a play on “police” and “calisthenics,” the program relaunch was made with contingents from the PNP’s various operating and administrative support units in attendance at the PNP Grandstand in Camp Crame on Tuesday.

“We are expected to stay calm, think clearly and act decisively even in the most challenging conditions. And we cannot do that if we are not in good shape, physically and mentally,” PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Jose Nartatez Jr. said on Torre’s behalf at the relaunch.

“Let us make being healthy our lifestyle as police officers. If our body is healthy, our mind is clear, our hearts are strong and our actions are fast, especially for the needed police response,” added Nartatez.

According to the PNP deputy chief, the program was last held almost a year ago. Now, it will be conducted every Tuesday and Thursday.

In a press briefing also in Camp Crame earlier on Tuesday, PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the agency’s Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development was forming a framework for a police force-wide fitness program.

According to Fajardo, however, police officers are free to choose whichever fitness program they feel is the most effective to help them achieve their weight goal.

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

 Last June 13, Torre announced that he ordered mobile force police officers to undergo a physical fitness program of their choice from 3 p.m. onwards on Tuesdays and Thursday.

Torre cited Republic Act 9675 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act which reorganized the PNP.

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. /gsg