Desperate fat cops turn to Xenical

Fearing being shipped out of the police service, more than 100 Manila policemen, whose waists measure 40 inches and above have reportedly turned to weight-reducing pills for instant results.

The STAR learned that majority of potbellied policemen, who have been pulled out from field duties and confined to Western Police District (WPD) headquarters, are now taking Xenical, a popular weight-reducing pill that even President Estrada admitted taking to lose unwanted fat.

The pill commands a selling price of P50 in the market, but Roche Laboratories, the maker of Xenical, is reportedly offering the pill exclusively to WPD personnel at a discounted price of P41.

Meanwhile, policemen from the lowest rank to chief superintendent are gearing up for the first physical fitness examination set this weekend at the Central Police District, in compliance with the 34-inch guideline of Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director General Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.

CPD director Chief Superintendent Victor Luga leads his men in daily exercises at the headquarters in Camp Karingal to be "physically-fit" for the job.

Chief Superintendent Romulo Sales, deputy chief of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence and former Quezon City Police director, said he has started a 'natural' physical fitness regimen to become slim.

Lacson has warned Sales, who weighs 225 lbs., of relief if he fails to trim down his figure and his waistline which measures 44 inches.

"I do not oppose the program. In fact, I have started to comply to the best that is medically acceptable," Sales told The STAR.

Sales says he does not take Xenical pills. But he goes to the gym for a two to three-hours exercise daily. In the morning, he also takes the tread mill to shed his excess fat.