REMINDER NOT TO ENGAGE IN PARTISAN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

From the Office of the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer

15 September 2023

Related to the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), everyone is reminded of the following prohibition against government officials and employees engaging in partisan political activities under Section 261 (i) of the Omnibus Election Code:

"SECTION 261. Prohibited Acts. - The following shall be guilty of an election offense:

(i) Intervention of public officers and employees. - Any officer or employee in the civil service, except those holding political offices; any officer, employee, or member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or any police force, special forces, home defense forces, barangay self-defense units, and all other para-military units that now exist or which may hereafter be organized who, directly or indirectly, intervenes in any election campaign and engages in any partisan political activity except to vote or to preserve public order, if he is a peace officer."

As defined under Section 79 of the same law, the phrases "election campaign" and "partisan political activities" refer to any such act designed to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to public office which shall include"

"(1) Forming organizations, associations, clubs, committees or other groups of persons for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign for or against a candidate; 4th Floor AAP Tower, 683 Aurora Blvd., Mariana, Quezon City Email: ph.ncsc@gmail.com

(2) Holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, rallies, parades, or other similar assemblies, for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign or propaganda for or against a candidate;

(3) Making speeches, announcements or commentaries, or holding interviews for or against the election of any candidate for public office;

(4) Publishing or distributing campaign literature or materials designed to support or oppose the election of any candidate; or

(5) Directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or against a candidate." Personnel under Contract of Service (COS) or Job Order (JO) as well as volunteers in the online registration of senior citizens, while technically not under the civil service, are also mandated to observe the said prohibition and are warned to be circumspect in their actions, especially in their rendition of services for the Commission.

Read the original Memo