A Visayan lawmaker has sought the passage of a measure that would penalize any civilian caught wearing a uniform of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or Philippine National Police.
Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar, in filing his proposal, sought to amend Republic Act 493 to provide a strong and effective deterrent to crimes associated with the illegal use of AFP or PNP uniforms.
The bill widens the coverage of the law to include the ban on the use and wearing of military and police or imitations and the manufacture and sale of military/police uniforms or imitations and the textile for these uniforms.
“Violators face a jail term of 10 years and a fine of P20,000 for the use and wearing of military and police or imitations, while a five-year imprisonment and a fine of P10,000 shall be imposed for the unauthorized sale of military and police uniforms to civilian and the production of textile, which is being used for the production of the uniforms,” Del Mar said.
Del Mar said oftentimes, criminals facilitate the commission of their crimes by wearing AFP and PNP uniforms. This misrepresentation has also caused damage to the reputation of the military and the police.
Del Mar noted that RA 493 regulates the wearing, using, manufacturing and selling of insignias, decorations and medals, badges, patches and identification cards prescribed for the AFP and Philippine Constabulary, now the Philippine National Police, by persons not in the service.
However, he said the prohibition under RA 493 does not cover the use and wearing of military/police uniforms as well as the manufacture and sale of military/police uniforms and the textile for these uniforms.
Del Mar also said the use of military and/or police uniforms and accessories has been prohibited under special law and the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines.
Article 177 prohibits any person to falsely represent himself as officer, agent or representative of any department or agency of the Philippine government, he said.
Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code provides that any person who publicly and improperly makes use of insignia, uniforms or dress pertaining to an office not held by such person or to class of persons of which he is not a member shall be penalized by arresto mayor.
Del Mar said Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines is universal to all departments of agencies of the Philippine government. Moreover, the penalties provided by these laws are perceived to be light.
“Despite these legal prohibitions, criminal syndicates and individuals have not been deterred in using military or police uniforms in their unlawful and illegal activities,” Del Mar said.
“Many civilians could be seen wearing what resembles military or police uniform in public. In the recent past, the military look became fashionable that several imitations of the military uniforms were sold commercially and were often prominently displayed in department stores,” Del Mar added.
Del Mar said unauthorized persons have taken advantage of the proliferation of imitations of uniforms bearing close resemblance to the official military and police uniforms to falsely represent themselves as members of the AFP or the PNP.