QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 297)
Executive Order No. 297 is an executive issuance by the President (Joseph Ejercito Estrada) under powers vested by law. It regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of Philippine National Police (PNP) uniforms, insignias, and other accoutrements.
The unauthorized manufacture, sale, and distribution of PNP uniforms, insignias, and other accoutrements are prohibited.
After due notice and hearing, it may result in: (1) immediate closure of the establishment/plant/office, (2) cancellation of its business license/permit, (3) condemnation, seizure, and forfeiture of paraphernalia used or intended for manufacture/sale/distribution, and (4) imposition of reasonable administrative fines—without prejudice to administrative, civil, and/or criminal actions.
EO 297 requires due notice and hearing before the administrative penalties may be imposed.
Any person who is not a member of the uniformed Philippine National Police personnel is prohibited from using them.
After due notice and hearing, the violator shall be penalized by public censure to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation, without prejudice to administrative, civil, and/or criminal actions.
EO 297 primarily provides administrative sanctions (closure, cancellation of permits, seizure/forfeiture, administrative fines, and public censure). It also expressly notes that administrative, civil, and/or criminal actions may still be filed separately.
It states that there was no law regulating the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of PNP uniforms, insignias, and other accoutrements, and thus it provides a regulatory framework to ensure only authorized entities handle these items and that they are used exclusively by uniformed PNP personnel.
It declares that PNP uniforms, insignias, and other accoutrements symbolize discipline and an image representing every policeman and the PNP; wearing/using them establishes a distinctive recognition exclusive to every policeman and the PNP.
The EO notes that while Article 179 penalizes illegal public and improper use of insignia/uniforms pertaining to an office not held by the person or a class he is not a member of, it does not cover the illegal manufacture, sale, and distribution of the same.
The EO explains that RA 493 prohibits, among others, wearing, use, manufacture, and sale of insignias/decorations/medals/badges/patches/ID cards prescribed for the Armed Forces or Constabulary, and it does not apply to the Philippine National Police.
The Philippine National Police shall adopt its own uniforms, insignias, and other accoutrements for the exclusive use of its unformed personnel (as written in the EO).
Uniform designs and specifications must be approved by the PNP Uniform and Equipment Standardization Board (UESB) and are subject to PNP inspection and acceptance procedures.
Only those accredited by the PNP and the National Historical Institute are authorized to manufacture, sell, or distribute the same.
The Chief, PNP shall issue rules and regulations for effective implementation of EO 297.
All orders, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with EO 297 are repealed or modified accordingly.