THE military said Thursday appropriate legal action would be taken against actress-comedian “Juana Change”—Mae Paner in real life—for wearing a military uniform during one of the protest actions held during the second State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte last July 24.
“Ms. Mae Paner, popularly known as ‘Juana Change,’ has inappropriately used our military uniform and disrespected it since she is not a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines nor a part of our Reservists Corps,” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said Thursday.
“Her act of illegally using an AFP uniform is in violation of Article 179 of the RPC [Revised Penal Code] and RA [Republic Act] 493. We will take the necessary legal action to hold Ms. Paner accountable,” he added.
Article 179 states that the penalty of “arresto mayor” shall be imposed upon 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.
Under existing jurisprudence, arresto mayor means imprisonment of one month and one day minimum to six months maximum.
Padilla added each appearance of “Juana Change” in public wearing a military uniform was counted as one violation.
He stopped short of saying when the military would file the criminal charge.