EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 297 - REGULATING THE MANUFACTURE, SALE, DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF PNP UNIFORMS, INSIGNIAS AND OTHER ACCOUTREMENTS

WHEREAS, the PNP uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements are symbolic of a discipline and an image which portray the character and being of every policeman, most representative of a professional Philippine National Police;

WHEREAS, the use or wearing of PNP uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements projects at the very first instance an identity that establishes a distinctive recognition exclusive to every policeman and the Philippine National Police;

WHEREAS, the PNP uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements are easily available and/or procured from any manufacturer, seller, distributor, or supplier by any person, including unscrupulous and lawless individuals who make a mockery of their use for personal gain, unlawful purposes and/or other designs to degrade the policeman and the Philippine National Police;

WHEREAS, while Article 179, “Illegal use of uniforms or insignia” of Republic Act 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines penalizes any person who shall publicly and improperly make use of insignia, uniforms or dress pertaining to an office not held by such person or to a class of persons of which he is not a member; it does not include the illegal manufacture, sale and distribution of the same;  

WHEREAS, while Republic Act No. 493 was also enacted prohibiting, among others, the wearing, use, manufacture and sale of insignias, decorations and medals, badges, patches and identification cards prescribed for the “Armed Forces” or “Constabulary”, it does not apply to the Philippine National Police;

WHEREAS, there is no law that governs and regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements of the Philippine National Police;  

WHEREAS, to ensure that PNP uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements are manufactured, sold, distributed or supplied only by authorized manufacturer, distributor, supplier and/or seller and used exclusively by uniformed personnel of the PNP, there is a need for regulation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. The unauthorized manufacture, sale and distribution of PNP uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements is hereby prohibited. Any violation of this rule shall, after due notice and hearing, result in the immediate closure of the establishment, plant and/or office where the uniforms and other items are manufactured, stored, sold and/or distributed, the cancellation of its business license or permit, the condemnation, seizure and forfeiture of all paraphernalia used or intended to be used in the manufacture, sale and/or distribution and the imposition of reasonable administrative fines, without prejudice to the filing of administrative, civil and/or criminal actions.

Sec. 2. The use of PNP uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements by any person who is not a member of the uniformed Philippine National Police personnel is also prohibited. Any violation of this rule shall, after due notice and hearing, be penalized by public censure which shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation without prejudice to the filing of administrative, civil and/or criminal actions.

Sec. 3. The Philippine National Police shall adopt its own uniforms, insignias and other accoutrements for the exclusive use of its uniformed personnel. The uniforms and other items shall be subject to inspection and acceptance procedures of the Philippine National Police with each design and specification approved by the PNP Uniform and Equipment Standardization Board (UESB). As such, only those accredited by the PNP and the National Historical Institute are authorized to manufacture, sell or distribute the same. 

Sec. 4. The Chief, Philippine National Police shall issue rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Executive Order.

Sec. 5. All orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 

Done in the City of Manila, this 4th day of October, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand.

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Since 19.07.98.