(NAR) VOL. 11 NO.4 / OCT. – DEC. 2000
WHEREAS, the PNP uniforms, insignias and
other accoutrements are symbolic of a discipline and an image which
portray the character and being of every policeman, most representative
of a professional Philippine National Police;
WHEREAS, the
use or wearing of PNP uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements
projects at the very first instance an identity that establishes a
distinctive recognition exclusive to every policeman and the Philippine
National Police;
WHEREAS, the PNP uniforms, insignias and
other accoutrements are easily available and/or procured from any
manufacturer, seller, distributor, or supplier by any person, including
unscrupulous and lawless individuals who make a mockery of their use for
personal gain, unlawful purposes and/or other designs to degrade the
policeman and the Philippine National Police;
WHEREAS,
while Article 179, “Illegal use of uniforms or insignia” of Republic Act
3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines
penalizes 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; it does not
include the illegal manufacture, sale and distribution of the same;
WHEREAS,
while Republic Act No. 493 was also enacted prohibiting, among others,
the wearing, use, manufacture and sale of insignias, decorations and
medals, badges, patches and identification cards prescribed for the
“Armed Forces” or “Constabulary”, it does not apply to the Philippine
National Police;
WHEREAS, there is no law that governs and
regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of uniforms,
insignias and other accoutrements of the Philippine National Police;
WHEREAS,
to ensure that PNP uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements are
manufactured, sold, distributed or supplied only by authorized
manufacturer, distributor, supplier and/or seller and used exclusively
by uniformed personnel of the PNP, there is a need for regulation;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
SECTION 1.
The unauthorized manufacture, sale and distribution of PNP uniforms,
insignias and other accoutrements is hereby prohibited. Any violation of
this rules, shall, after due notice and hearing, result in the
immediate closure of the establishment, plant and/or office where the
uniforms and other items are manufactured, stored, sold and/or
distributed, the cancellation of its business license or permit, the
condemnation, seizure and forfeiture of all paraphernalia used or
intended to be used in the manufacture, sale and/or distribution and the
imposition of reasonable administrative fines, without prejudice to the
filing of administrative, civil and/or criminal actions.
SEC. 2.
The use of PNP uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements by any
person who is not a member of the uniformed Philippine National Police
personnel is also prohibited. Any violation of this rule, shall, after
due notice and hearing, be penalized by public censure which shall be
published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation without
prejudice to the filing of administrative, civil and/or criminal
actions.
SEC. 3. The Philippine National Police shall
adopt its own uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements for the
exclusive use of its unformed personnel. The uniforms and other items
shall be subject to inspection and acceptance procedures of the
Philippine National Police with each design and specification approved
by the PNP Uniform and Equipment Standardization Board (UESB). As such,
only those accredited by the PNP and the National Historical Institute
are authorized to manufacture, sell or distribute the same.
SEC. 4.
The Chief, Philippine National Police shall issue rules and regulations
for the effective implementation of this Executive Order.
SEC. 5.
All orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
Done in the City of Manila, this 4th day of October in the year of our Lord, two thousand.
(Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
By the President:
RAMON B. ZAMORAExecutive Secretary