Civilians discouraged from wearing camouflage
The Philippine Army has admitted difficulty in regulating the use camouflage clothing because there is no law that prohibits civilians from wearing it.
“We could not stop the availability of these camouflage clothes because as what we all know there is no law (against it),” First Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, Army regional spokesperson, said.
However, Posadas said that legitimate soldiers have their own identification marks like the wearer’s name and unit indicating that they are part of the armed forces.
Despite this, he said the Army is still discouraging unauthorized civilians from wearing camouflage clothes and warned those who will be caught impersonating or pretending to be Army soldiers.
“We will charge them for usurpation of authority,” Posadas said.
Maj. Gen. Vicente Porto, commander of the 3rd ID, advised Army soldiers to better keep their old uniforms if these could not be used anymore or if they have already retired.
In Western Visayas, police and army uniforms have been used by armed groups, particularly by New People’s Army and robbery groups.
“Police uniform should only be used by legitimate policemen,” Porto said.
The law states that offenders will be held liable for violation of articles 177 (Usurpation of Authority or Official Functions) and 179 (Illegal Use of Uniforms or Insignia) of the Revised Penal Code that imposes imprisonment terms to those convicted.
Also, Executive Order No. 297 orders the “immediate closure of the establishment, plant or office where the uniforms and other items are illegally manufactured, stored, sold or distributed.*
