NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2151
fv%T|
of tl]C
23 may “9 A 8 50
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 493 TO INCLUDE IN THE COVERAGE OF 
PROHIBITION THE USE, WEARING, MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF 
UNIFORMS AND TEXTILE OF UNIFORMS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, 
PRESCRIBING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The military and police uniform represents visual evidence of the authority 
and responsibility vested In the individual. There have been instances wherein such 
uniforms were used to intimidate or harass other people and even perpetrate crimes. 
As the defense establishment and our uniformed personnel strive hard to cleanse 
their ranks of corrupt elements, the illegal use of their uniform by people who do not 
belong to the organization posing as legitimate members while doing unlawful 
activities, cause harm to the entire force and negatively affect the people's trust and 
confidence to the authorities.
In many cases, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine 
National Police (PNP) reminded the public of the regulations in place with respect to 
the improper and inappropriate wearing of uniform of the military and the police. But 
prevailing policies and light penalties seem not to deter the public from wearing the 
uniform of our law enforcement officers and protectors of the people and the State.


This bill proposes to protect the image of the AFP and the PNP as a unified, 
well disciplined and respectable organization, by updating and clarifying Republic Act 
No. 493, which was enacted in 1950, to specifically include in the prohibition the 
wearing of uniform of military and police personnel by those who are not in the 
service of the AFP and the PNP. This measure proposes longer jail term and heavier 
fines for violators of the law, hopefully to serve as more effective deterrent.
The passage of this legislation is earnestly sought.
^^NGGJY EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
s. No. 2151
Of m ^^-fvptarp
23 MAY-9 A 8 50
Rl^CElVEDBV:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 493 TO INCLUDE IN THE COVERAGE OF 
PROHIBITION THE USE, WEARING, MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF 
UNIFORMS AND TEXTILE OF UNIFORMS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, 
PRESCRIBING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 493 is hereby amended to read as
2 
follows:
3 
"SECTION 1. Hereafter it shall be unlawful for any person or
4 
association of persons not in the service of the Armed Forces of the
5 
Philippines [or the Philippine Constabulary] OR THE PHILIPPINE
6 
NATIONAL POLICE to use, or confer upon himself or another who is
7 
not in the service of the said Armed Forces or [Constabulary]
8 
NATIONAL POLICE, any military, POLICE or naval grade or title
9 
which is, or may hereafter be, prescribed by laws and regulations for
10 
the use of the Armed Forces or [Constabulary] NATIONAL POLICE:
11 
Provided, That the foregoing shall not be construed as prohibiting the
12 
use of such military, POLICE or naval grades or title by personnel or
13 
persons now authorized by law and by the following persons:


1 
(a) All veterans of any war when recognized by the Philippine
2 
or United States Government and only for the ranks for
3 
which they are recognized;
4 
(b) Commissioned officers and personnel, retired or in active
5 
duty, of the [Bureau - of -Coast-and-Geodetic—Survey]
6 
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD, of the quarantine service,
7 
and of the customs service;
8 
(c) Commissioned and enlisted reservists including recognized
9 
guerrilla officers on inactive status when using their
10 
authorized grades for a purely military purpose;
11 
(d) Trainees in the Armed Forces OR THE NATIONAL
12 
POLICE while undergoing any period of trainee instruction
13 
pursuant to law."
14 
Sec. 2. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 493 is hereby amended to read as
15 
follows:
16 
"SEC. 2. Hereafter it shall be unlawful for any person not in the
17 
service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine
18 
[Constabulary] NATIONAL POLICE, except those excluded from the
19 
prohibition in section one of this Act, to use or wear the duly
20 
prescribed insignia, UNIFORM, badge or emblem or rank of the
21 
members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine
22 
[Constabulary] NATIONAL POLICE, or any colorable imitation
23 
thereof: Provided, That the foregoing shall not be construed as
24 
prohibiting any person from using or wearing any military, POLICE or
25 
naval insignia, UNIFORM, badge or emblem of rank in any play-house
26 
or theater or in moving-picture films while actually engaged in
27 
representing therein a military, POLICE or naval character not tending
28 
to bring discredit or reproach upon the Armed Forces of the
29 
Philippines, the Philippine [Constabulary] NATIONAL POLICE or the
30 
[Bureau—of Coast and—Geodetic Survey] PHILIPPINE COAST
31 
GUARD: Provided, further. That the use or wearing of any military,
32 
POLICE or naval insignia, UNIFORM, badge or emblem of rank while


1 
engaged in representing a military, POLICE or naval character as
2 
hereinabove described, shall be subject to supervision and regulation
3 
by the Secretary of National Defense FOR THE ARMED FORCES OF
4 
THE PHILIPPINES, THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND
5 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
6 
OR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE
7 
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD. The phrase "duly prescribed insignia,
8 
UNIFORM, badge or emblem of rank" shall, for the purposes of this
9 
Act, mean any insignia, UNIFORM, badge or emblem of rank which is,
10 
or may hereafter be, prescribed by Congress, the Secretary of National
11 
Defense FOR THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, [ei-the
12 
Chief - of-Constabulary] SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND
13 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
14 
OR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE
15 
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD."
16 
Sec. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 493 Is hereby amended to read as
17 
follows:
18 
"SEC. 3. Hereafter the use, wearing, manufacture and sale of
19 
any medal or decoration, badge, insignia, UNIFORM, TEXTILE OF
20 
SAID UNIFORM, patch, or identification card which has been, or may
21 
hereafter be, authorized by Congress or prescribed or awarded by the
22 
President of the Philippines or the Secretary of National Defense for
23 
the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, THE
24 
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR
25 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE OR THE SECRETARY OF
26 
TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD, or
27 
any colorable imitation thereof, is prohibited, except when authorized
28 
under such regulations as the Secretary of National Defense,
29 
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OR
30 
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION shall prescribe AS THE
31 
CASE MAY BE."


1 
Sec. 4. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 493 is hereby annended to read as
2 
follows:
3 
"SEC. 4. Any person who confers upon himself or another any
4 
military, POLICE or naval grade or title in violation of section one of
5 
this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than
6 
[two] TEN thousand pesos (P10,000) and not exceeding [five]
7 
TWENTY thousand pesos (P20,000) or by imprisonment for not less
8 
than [two] FIVE (5) years and not exceeding [five] TEN (10) years,
9 
or both AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE COURT. Any person
10 
who violates any other provision of this Act shall, upon conviction, be
11 
punished by a fine of not less than [one hundred] FIVE THOUSAND
12 
pesos (P5,000) and not exceeding [two] TEN thousand pesos
13 
(P10,000), or by imprisonment for not less than [one month] TWO
14 
(2) YEARS and not exceeding [two] FIVE (5) years, or both AS
15 
MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE COURT. In case the violation is
16 
committed by a corporation, the manager and all the members of the
17 
board of directors or governing body thereof, shall be liable individually
18 
in accordance with this section."
19 
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretaries of the
20 
Departments of National Defense, Interior and Local Government, and
21 
Transportation shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
22 
implementation of this Act.
23 
Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
24 
unconstitutional, the remaining provision not affected thereby shall continue to be in
25 
full force and effect.
26 
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders or regulations or part
27 
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
28 
Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
29 
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of
30 
general circulation.
Approved,