MANILA, Philippines- Nagpalabas ang Civil Service Commission (CSC) ng memorandum na nagbabawal sa mga opisyal at empleyado ng gobyerno na magpartisipa sa partisan political activity kabilang na ang pagla-like, pagsi-share bukod sa iba ng social media posts sa panahon ng campaign period para sa May 12, 2025 polls.
Ang mahuhuling lalabag sa Memorandum Circular 3-2025 o Reminder Not to Engage in Partisan Political Activities During the Campaign Period of the 2025 Midterm Elections ay masususpinde ng isang buwan hanggang anim na buwan para sa first offense at masisibak sa serbisyo para sa second offense.
Tinukoy din ng CSC ang 1987 Constitution, bukod sa iba pang umiiral na batas, bilang batayan.
“Government officials and employees are further reminded to be prudent when using social media. Social media functions such as liking, comment[ing], sharing, re-posting, or following a candidate’s or party’s account are considered as partisan political activity” if these are resorted to as means to solicit support for or against a candidate or party during the campaign period,” ang nakasaad sa memorandum.
“Given their nature, the prohibited activities may be committed not only during but also outside office hours for the duration of the campaign period. It may also be committed even outside office premises,” dagdag pa.
Nakasaad naman sa 1987 Constitution na “no officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign” and that “no member of the military shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political activity, except to vote.”
Sinabi rin ng CSC na ang kahalintulad na pagbabawal ay matatagpuan din sa ilalim ng Administrative Code of 1987, Omnibus Election Code, at Local Government Code.
Ang mga indibidwal na saklaw ng pagbabawal laban sa pagsali sa partisan political activity ay ang:
lahat miyembro ng civil service sa lahat ng sangay, subdivisions, instrumentalities, at ahensya ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas, kabilang ang government-owned or -controlled corporations na may original charters, at state universities and colleges, maging ang kanilang appointments ay permanent, temporary, contractual, o casual;
career officers na humahawak ng political offices na acting o officer-in-charge capacity;
uniformed at active members ng Armed Forces of the Philippines at Philippine National Police; at mga barangay officials.
Kris Jose
