Civil Service Commission, Quezon City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Cause-oriented groups and individuals asked the Supreme Court on Friday to declare void and unconstitutional the Civil Service Commission memorandum reminding government employees not to engage in partisan politics ahead of the May midterm polls. 

In their petition for certiorari and prohibition, Bayan Muna and Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees or COURAGE also asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order against the CSC and the Commission on Elections.

The group assailed CSC Memorandum No. 03, s. 2025 as well as Comelec-CSC Joint Circular No. 001, series of 2016.

“Such restrictions must be temporarily restrained not only to allow civilian government employees the right to exercise their constitutional rights to express their support to or by liking, sharing, reposting messages from the candidates and social causes they support but also as it impacts on the results of the elections,” Bayan Muna said in the petition.

Comelec reminds government employees to avoid partisan politics

The petition noted that the CSC memo was issued to all heads of government agencies to remind all government officials and employees not to engage, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political activity.

The memo noted that the reminder is mandated by the 1987 Constitution as well as laws and civil service rules.

The Comelec circular meantime listed prohibited acts such as directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or against a candidate or political party. 

The circular reminded government officials and employees to be “prudent” in “liking, commenting, sharing, re-posting” a candidate or political party’s accounts which are considered as “partisan political activity.”

“Totoo may provision sa ating Saligang-Batas that members and officers of the civil service are prohibited from directly and indirectly participating in partisan political activity or electioneering, pero kalabisan itong circular na ito,” said former COURAGE national president Ferdinand Gaite

“Permanent, contractual, casual, temporary nire-regulate nila habang iyong cabinet members, iyong mga elective official na siyang may command sa government resources and funds, aba’y maluwag, in fact meron pang mga kaso na ang mga cabinet members are even, you know elective officials are going around the country campaigning, during office hours,” said petitioners’ counsel Atty. Neri Colmenares.

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