MANILA — The Commission on Elections on Tuesday reminded government employees who are covered by Civil Service rules to avoid partisan political activities. 

Comelec chairman George Garcia said government employees are not prohibited from supporting a candidate but joining partisan political activities is strictly not allowed.

“Bawal ang partisan political activities pero hindi bawal sumuporta sa isang kandidato….dahil lahat naman tayo..anuman ang nature ng ating ginagawa..may karapatan tayong mamili base sa ating saloobin o kaisipan,” Garcia said.  

If the nature of the job of an employee is co-terminus of government officials and strictly confidential, Garcia said they are not covered by the CSC rules and not barred from joining political activities.


“Kapag po ang nature ng appointment ng isang nasa pamahalaan ay co-terminus and strictly confidential…halimbawa sa amin mga commisisoners - ang iba po naming mga staff ay co-terminus and strictly confidential. Kung yan po ay nasa opisina ng mga mayor, governor o ng congressman o senador, sila po ay technically hindi covered ng Civil Service rules and therefore pupwede po silang makapangampanya…and therefore, puwede po silang makasama sa pangangampanya dahil highly technical and political ang nature ng kanilang mga appointments,” he explained.

“Kapag po yung mismong empleyado ang nature ng appointment at appointive, hindi siya highly technical, hindi siya highly confidential, hindi siya political kundi ordinaryong political appointive employee… covered po siya ng Civil Service Rules at nakalagay mismo sa saligang batas na ang miyembro ng Civil Service ay bawal ma-engage sa partisan political activities,” he added.