The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will no longer file charges against actress and political activist Mae Paner, also known as Juana Change, for wearing a military uniform during a rally on Monday.
Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said AFP Chief Gen. Eduardo Año ordered a “thorough review of the case” of Paner following information that she did not actually ridicule soldiers.
READ: AFP plans legal steps vs ‘Juana Change’ for wearing military attire at rally
“Last night, the Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año ordered a thorough review of the case of Ms. Paner following information that Ms. Paner did not actually ridicule soldiers but even praised the sacrifices of our men in uniform,” Padilla, quoting the statement of the AFP, said during the Mindanao Hour briefing in Malacañang on Friday.
The military official said they received information that Paner wore the military uniform “in the interest of the arts, being a recognized comedian.”
“Based on this information and other findings, the AFP will no longer pursue the case but calls upon Ms. Paner and other unauthorized individuals to henceforth desist from the inappropriate use of our uniforms,” he said.
“She and the others must understand that the particular uniform she wore is the battle dress attire of our armed forces,” he added.
Padilla explained why the military uniform was “very sacred” to the AFP.
“It is the same uniform our soldiers wear whenever we go to battle and the same uniform many of our heroes die wearing in the battlefield and in the defense of the Motherland and our people. This is the very reason we hold this particular uniform very sacred,” he said.
If Paner wishes to be part of the military, he said the actress could join “the ranks of our patriotic reservists.”
“If it is her desire to extol the sacrifice, gallantry and dedication to duty of all soldiers and help recruit more patriotic Filipinos to the armed forces, your armed forces is open to have Ms. Paner among the ranks of our patriotic reservists, who without hesitation continue to be among our most ardent partners for change,” Padilla added.
Paner wore a camouflage, battle-dress attire in a protest action early this week during President Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address on Monday. IDL/rga/JPV