V< . ' kiDfl ,; ’ Oi :
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 AUG -5 P4 :06
S. No.
SENATE
944
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.
Y EJERCITO ESTRADA


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
. ■> C; !
)
SENATE
S. No. 944
25 AUG -5 P4 :06
Ri:CElv 0':'
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:
Section 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 493 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"SECTION 1. Hereafter it shall be unlawful for any 
person or association of persons not in the service of the 
Armed Forces of the Philippines [er—the—Philippine 
Constabulary] OR THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE 
to use, or confer upon himself or another who is not in the 
service of the said Armed Forces or [Constabulary] 
NATIONAL POLICE, any military, POLICE or naval grade 
or title which is, or may hereafter be, prescribed by laws and 
regulations for the use of the Armed Forces or 
[Constabulary] NATIONAL POLICE: Provided, That the 
foregoing shall not be construed as prohibiting the use of 
such military, POLICE or naval grades or title by personnel


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


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Philippine [ConstabulDry] NATIONAL POLICE or the 
[Burcau--of Coast and Geodetic Survey] PHILIPPINE 
COAST GUARD: Provided, further. That the use or wearing 
of any military, POLICE or naval insignia, UNIFORM, 
badge or emblem of rank while engaged in representing a 
military, POLICE or naval character as hereinabove 
described, shall be subject to supervision and regulation by 
the Secretary of National Defense FOR THE ARMED 
FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE SECRETARY OF 
THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE OR THE SECRETARY 
OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PHILIPPINE COAST 
GUARD. The phrase "duly prescribed insignia, UNIFORM, 
badge or emblem of rank" shall, for the purposes of this Act, 
mean any insignia, UNIFORM, badge or emblem of rank 
which is, or may hereafter be, prescribed by Congress, the 
Secretary of National Defense FOR THE ARMED FORCES 
OF THE PHILIPPINES, [or the Chief of Gonstabutary] 
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT FOR THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL 
POLICE OR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 
FOR THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD."
Sec. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 493 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"SEC. 3. Hereafter the use, wearing, manufacture and 
sale of any medal or decoration, badge, insignia, 
UNIFORM, TEXTILE OF SAID UNIFORM, patch, or 
identification card which has been, or may hereafter be, 
authorized by Congress or prescribed or awarded by the 
President of the Philippines or the Secretary of National 
Defense for the members of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines, THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND


1 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE PHILIPPINE
2 
NATIONAL POLICE OR THE SECRETARY OF
3 
TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PHILIPPINE COAST
4 
GUARD, or any colorable imitation thereof, is prohibited,
5 
except when authorized under such regulations as the
6 
Secretary of National Defense, SECRETARY OF THE
7 
INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OR THE
8 
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION shall prescribe AS
9 
THE CASE MAY BE."
10 
Sec. 4. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 493 is hereby amended to read as
11 
follows:
12 
"SEC. 4. Any person who confers upon himself
13 
or another any military, POLICE or naval grade or title in
14 
violation of section one of this Act shall, upon conviction, be
15 
punished by a fine of not less than [two] TEN thousand
16 
pesos (P10,000) and not exceeding [five] TWENTY
17 
thousand pesos (P20,000) or by imprisonment for not less
18 
than [two] FIVE (5) years and not exceeding [five] TEN
19 
(10) years, or both AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE
20 
COURT. Any person who violates any other provision of this
21 
Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less
22 
than [one hundred] FIVE THOUSAND pesos (P5,000) and
23 
not exceeding [two] TEN thousand pesos (P10,000), or by
24 
imprisonment for not less than [one month] TWO (2)
25 
YEARS and not exceeding [two] FIVE (5) years, or both
26 
AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE COURT. In case the
27 
violation is committed by a corporation, the manager and all
28 
the members of the board of directors or governing body
29 
thereof, shall be liable individually in accordance with this
30 
section."
31 
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretaries of the
32 
Departments of National Defense, Interior and Local Government, and


1 
Transportation shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
2 
implementation of this Act.
3 
Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
4 
unconstitutional, the remaining provision not affected thereby shall continue to be in
5 
full force and effect.
6 
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders or regulations or part
7 
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
8 
Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
9 
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of 
10 general circulation.
Approved,