(POLITIKO) Senator Jinggoy Estrada wants to raise the penalties against those illegally using uniforms of the Philippine National Police, (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or the Philippine Coast Guard.
In Senate bill No. 2151, Estrada said violators must pay a fine of as much as P20,000 and be sent to jail for 10 years as part of the government’s crackdown on fake cops and soldiers.
Those engaged in the unauthorized manufacture and sale of these uniforms must be slapped with a fine ranging P5,000 to P10,000 fine as well as imprisonment of two to five years or both.
Estrada, in seeking amendments to Republic Act 493, said the heavier penalties would serve as a strong deterrent against “fake” policemen and military personnel, especially committing crimes.
“Makailang beses nang napabalita ang mga pang-extort, kidnapping, pangho-holdup, maging ang pag-ambush ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno ng mga pekeng pulis at miyembro ng military. Panahon na para isama sa pangangasiwa ng mga namumuno sa PNP, AFP maging ng secretaries ng Departments of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) at Transportation (DOTr) ang tamang paggamit ng uniporme at masawata ang mga nagkukunwaring mga alagad ng batas,” Estrada said.
“As the defense establishment and our uniformed personnel strive hard to cleanse their ranks of corrupt members, the illegal use of their uniform by people who do not belong to the organization and posing as legitimate members while doing unlawful activities, cause problems to the entire force and negatively affect the people’s trust and confidence on authorities,” he also said.