Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 493)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 493 is to prohibit the unauthorized use or conferring of military or naval ranks, grades, insignias, decorations, medals, badges, patches, and identification cards by persons not in the service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine Constabulary.
Exempted persons include veterans recognized by the Philippine or U.S. Government for their ranks, commissioned officers and personnel of the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey, quarantine service, customs service, commissioned and enlisted reservists (including recognized guerilla officers) on inactive status using grades for purely military purposes, and trainees in the Armed Forces undergoing instruction.
It refers to any insignia, badge, or emblem of rank prescribed by laws enacted by Congress, or prescribed by the Secretary of National Defense or the Chief of Constabulary.
Yes, civilians may wear military insignia, badges, or emblems in plays or films while representing military or naval characters, provided it does not bring discredit or reproach to the Armed Forces, and is supervised and regulated by the Secretary of National Defense.
A person convicted for unauthorized use or conferral of military or naval grades or titles shall be fined not less than ₱2,000 and not more than ₱5,000, or imprisoned from 2 to 5 years, or both.
Those convicted for other violations like unauthorized use, manufacture, or sale of medals, decorations, insignias, badges, or identification cards face a fine of ₱100 to ₱2,000, or imprisonment from 1 month to 2 years, or both.
If a corporation violates the Act, the manager and all members of the board of directors or governing body shall be held individually liable according to the prescribed penalties.
Any use, wearing, manufacture, or sale of military insignia, badges, decorations, or identification cards without authorization is prohibited, except as regulated by the Secretary of National Defense, and limited exceptions such as theatrical use.
The Act took effect upon its approval on June 12, 1950.
Yes, Section 5 states that all laws or portions that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.