The Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) warned civilians about the penalty for posing as law enforcers or soldiers and wearing police or military uniforms.
PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. gave the reminder after two individuals in police uniforms robbed a pawnshop in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, on February 21.
“There are provisions of the law that ban wearing PNP and military uniform,” Acorda told reporters in a press briefing on Monday.
“It violates article 179 of the Revised Penal Code, and this will be aggravated if you wear this while committing a crime,” he said.
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Citing previous reports, Acorda said the two suspects were accompanied by two other suspects who disarmed the security guards.
The robbers fled with a bag afterwards.
Over the weekend, he revealed that the government of Koronadal offered P500,000 to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of suspects.
“This is essential to remind everyone that we don’t tolerate the misuse of our police uniform, particularly for committing heinous crimes which will be meted with legal consequences,” Acorda said.
According to him, Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code bans civilians from wearing police and military uniforms, especially while doing suspicious activities or violating the law.
Under the law, penalties for those who misrepresent themselves as a policeman or soldier are fined P2,000 to P5,000 and a penalty of imprisonment of six or more years.
In June last year, PNP partnered with online selling platforms to combat the proliferation of unauthorized selling of counterfeit and substandard uniforms, insignias, and accouterments.