BACOLOD CITY (PIA) — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) reminds all government workers not to engage in partisan political activities, especially this election season.
Human Resource (HR) Specialist Esper Herminio Legaste, information officer of CSC Negros Occidental Field Office, said civil service employees – regardless of their status of appointment, must remain politically neutral.
Legaste stressed this during the Negros Association of Information Officers and Liaisons (NAGIOL) meeting in February, saying this precautionary measure seeks to uphold integrity and neutrality in public service.
“Members of the Civil Service in all branches of government, career officers holding political offices, and uniformed and active members of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police are prohibited from engaging in any electioneering or partisan political activity,” he said.
Employees from government-owned and controlled corporations with original charters and state universities and colleges (SUCs) are also barred from participating in such partisan political activities.
According to CSC Resolution No. 1600298, partisan political activity is any act that promotes the election or defeat of candidates or parties by forming groups, holding political caucuses, and displaying campaign materials, among other activities.
“Participating in partisan political activities is an offense punishable by suspension of up to six months for the first offense and dismissal from service for the second,” Legaste pointed out, citing the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.
Excluded, however, from the coverage of electioneering and partisan political activity include expressing one’s views on current political problems or issues, mentioning the names of candidates or parties, and social media functions such as liking, commenting, sharing, reposting, or following a candidate’s account or page, as long as it does not explicitly seek support for or against a candidate or party during the campaign period.
Legaste also reiterated that the use of government resources such as official vehicles, human resources, and even official social media pages, must not be used for campaigns by seated officials.
As the midterm elections come near, the CSC and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) urge government employees to adhere to the rules to ensure fair public service during the elections.
“CSC reminds government employees to conduct themselves accordingly and avoid electioneering and partisan political activities especially this coming May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections,” Legaste said. (AGP/BPS/Intern ABS/PIA Negros Occidental)
