Vlogger Rendon Labador tapped by PNP for fitness program

MANILA —  Fitness coach and vlogger Rendon Labador on Thursday launched a fitness program for police personnel at Camp Crame headquarters, following Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III’s reiteration that officers must be physically fit.

Labador, son of a retired police officer, was tapped by the Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG) for the 90-day fitness initiative.

“Naging bisita natin siya dito, cordial lang. Then, ‘Let’s go.’ We didn’t expect naman na maging ganito [ang hype],” said PCADG Director Brig. Gen. Marvin Joe Saro, noting that there was no financial arrangement and the program was initially meant to be low-key.

(He visited us here—just a cordial meeting. Then we said, ‘Let’s go.’ We didn’t expect it would generate this kind of hype.)

While he could not provide an exact number, Saro said there are only a few overweight police officers and that most personnel are physically fit.

Labador said he would conduct a 93-day motivated functional workout and nutrition program for police officers, moving away from the usual Zumba and Tae Bo routines.

“Tawagin niyo akong ‘Pambansang Coach ng Kapulisan,’” Labador told reporters. “Ginagawa ko po ito nang libre. Nagpresinta po ako para tumulong.”

(Call me the ‘National Coach of the Police.’ I’m doing this for free. I volunteered to help.)

At least 150 police personnel initially signed up for the program.

“Gagawin natin ngayon, sabay-sabay, pare-pareho, at babantayan natin ‘yong resulta nila,” Labador said. “Ang pinakamabilis na magpapaliit sa tiyan ay unang-una sa lahat, dapat lahat ng pulis natin ay magbawas ng kanin.”

(We’ll do this together, at the same time, with the same routines—and we’ll monitor their results. The fastest way to shrink the belly, first of all, is for our police officers to cut down on rice.)