Military retreats on Juana Change

Juana Change -LEO SABANGAN II

The military apparently had a change of heart in its initial plan to sue comedian Mae Paner, more popularly known as Juana Change, for wearing a military uniform without authorization in a protest action during President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address on Monday.

Instead, military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla invited Paner to be a reservist in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Padilla said AFP chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año had ordered a review of Paner’s case after receiving information that the comedian had not ridiculed soldiers and had in fact praised their sacrifices.

“Based on this information and other findings, the AFP will no longer pursue the case but calls upon Ms. Paner and other individuals to desist from inappropriate use of our uniforms,” the military spokesperson said, adding that the uniform donned by Paner was one that soldiers use in battle and consider “very sacred.”

Padilla earlier said that the AFP would charge Paner for violating Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code (Unauthorized Use of Uniforms), and Republic Act  No. 493 (Prohibition of the Use of Insignias, Decorations, Badges and Patches prescribed for the AFP).  Paner’s use of the military uniform, when she was not a member of the Armed Forces, was a form of disrespect, he added.

‘Fair, thinking’

Describing the AFP as a “fair” and “thinking organization,” Padilla said it “will not subscribe to anything harsh if, in the interest of the public, (it) sees (the action) as reasonable.”

Padilla explained that Paner did not use the uniform to pass herself off as a soldier, nor did she use it to mislead police officers, or enter establishments to steal.

“If it is her desire to extol the sacrifice, gallantry and dedication to duty of all our soldiers and help recruit more patriotic Filipinos to the Armed Forces, (the AFP) 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 said.

Asked whether Assistant Communications Secretary Mocha Uson was allowed to wear a military uniform, Padilla said the blogger was in the process of becoming an AFP reservist.  He added that what Uson wore in pictures posted on social media was not an actual military uniform, but something that was available commercially.

After the AFP’s threat of legal action against Paner came out, netizens posted photographs of Uson in military uniform, with one shot showing her pulling down her camouflage pants to bare her pierced belly button.