Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

7
HOUSE BILL NO. 3967

Introduced by Honorable Erico B. Aumentado

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to impose a stiffer penalty for the illegal use of uniforms and
insignia of the police and military personnel.

Article 179 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, as
amended, already imposes a penalty of arresto mayor upon any person who shall
publicly and improperly make use of insignia, uniforms, or dress pertaining to any
office not held by such person or to a class of persons of which he is not a member.
Article 179 covers, for example, an act of an individual who is not a doctor or a soldier
in wearing publicly the uniform of a doctor or a soldier. The most abused uniforms are
those that belong to the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the
Philippine National Police (PNP).

In many instances, persons who are not in the military or police service are
publicly wearing the insignia and uniform of the AFP and PNP which oftentimes
facilitates the commission of crimes such as robbery, kidnapping, terrorism and
extortion, Such false representation of the members of the AFP and PNP tarnishes the
image and reputation of our uniformed personnel.

Hence, this bill seeks to provide a stiffer penalty for the wearing of uniforms of
the AFP and PNP by persons who are not in the military or police service as an
effective deterrent in the commission of any criminal activity associated with this
unlawful act.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is urgently recommended.

ERIC!

Bill Drafting Service


Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3967

Introduced by Honorable Erico B. Aumentado

AN ACT
IMPOSING A STIFFER PENALTY FOR THE ILLEGAL USE OF
UNIFORMS OR INSIGNIA, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
ARTICLE 179 OF ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Article 179 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is

hereby further amended by adding a second paragraph to read as follows:

“ART. 179. Illegal Use of Uniforms or Insignia. — The
penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed upon any person
who shall publicly and improperly make use of insignia,
uniforms or dress pertaining to an office not held by such

person or to a class of persons of which he is not a member.

THE PENALTY OF PRISION CORRECTIONAL

SHALL BE IMPOSED UPON ANY PERSON WHO SHALL

Bill Drafting Service


PUBLICLY AND IMPROPERLY MAKE USE OF THE
INSIGNIA, UNIFORMS, OR DRESS PERTAINING TO THE
ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (AFP) AND
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP): PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, THAT WHEN THE UNAUTHORIZED USE OF
THE AFP OR PNP UNIFORM FACILITATED THE
COMMISSION OF ANOTHER CRIME, THE PENALTY
FOR THE CRIME COMMITTED IN ITS MAXIMUM

PERIOD SHALL BE IMPOSED UPON THE OFFENDER.”

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved,