Enroll children in sports programs, PNP chief urges parents

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa is urging parents to enroll their children in sports and recreation activities during the summer break.

These activities are avenues for youngsters to avoid being enticed to using illegal drugs, he said.

“The energy of a person should go to sports instead of useless illegal drugs which destroy lives,” Dela Rosa added.

Dela Rosa led the opening ceremony of the PNP Summer Sports Training and Recreational Program in Camp Crame, a yearly activity where children of police and non-uniformed personnel participate in 16 activities such as taekwondo, badminton, boxing, chess, lawn tennis, swimming and table tennis.

Chief Superintendent Philip Gil Phillipps said there are around 1,100 participants in the activities these year.

They extended the registration for a few more days to accommodate more people.

“We are the encouraging children and the youth to come and participate,” said Phillipps.

Even outsiders can have their children enrolled in their recreation programs which is for free, Dela Rosa said.

“I can even train them in boxing,” he said in jest.

He  also urged fellow officers to take advantage of sport activities.

In his career as a police official, Dela Rosa said he has seen several police officers who had successful careers but had children with behavioral problems, with some ending as drug addicts and criminals.

“They neglected their children because they are focused on their jobs 24 hours a day,” Dela Rosa noted.

“These type of programs will compensate for shortcomings,” he said.