Ni FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
Sinabi kahapon ni Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla na hindi nila isinasantabi ang posibilidad na magsampa ng kaso laban sa television ad director at aktibistang si Mae Paner, na mas kilala bilang “Juana Change”, sa umano’y pambabastos sa AFP Battle Dress Uniform o BDU sa kasagsagan ng State of the Nation Address (SONA) rallies sa Quezon City noong Lunes.
Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni Padilla na mali ang ginawa ni Paner at mayroong patakaran at regulasyon na kinakailangang respetuhin ang kanilang uniporme.
“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 AFP nor a part of our reservists corps,” base sa statement ni Padilla.
“Her act of illegally using an AFP uniform is in violation of Art 179 of the Revised Penal Code (Unauthorized Use of Uniforms) and Republic Act 493 (Prohibition of Use of Insignias, Decorations, Badges and patches prescribed for the AFP). We will take the necessary legal action to hold Ms Paner accountable,” ayon kay Padillla.
Sa isang Facebook post, pinaalalahanan ng Philippine Army Recruitment Office ang lahat, lalo na ang mga sibilyan, na ang pagsusuot ng AFP uniform sa publiko ay ilegal.
Marami ring netizen na bumatikos sa ginawa ni Paner.
“Juana Change is not even a Reservist, and she’s desecrating the AFP Battle Dress Uniform) in a public demonstration,” pahayag ng PARO sa isang Facebook post.
“The AFP should file a case against her ASAP,” dagdag nito.
Sa ganap na 2:00 ng hapon nitong Huwebes, nag-viral ang post na may 1,800 likes, 873 shares at 485 comments, na karamihan ay negatibo tungkol kay Juana Change.
