Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines—State workers may express their opinion about politics but they cannot use government resources to campaign for a preferred candidate, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.
In a press briefing with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said that government officials may express their political opinion but they cannot impose the same on others.
“Ang pinagbabawal po partikular sa mga miyembro ng civil service o yung mga empleyado ng gobyerno, including the three branches of government, ay yung tinatawag nating partisan political activity,” Jimenez said during the press briefing.
“Pinapayagan ang pag-express ng personal opinion, pinapayagan yung pagsabi na ‘Ako, ito iboboto ko.’ Pero hindi pwedeng pakilusin and kani-kanilang mga department or ang kani-kanilang mga subordinates para suportahan yung kandidatong pinili ng leader nila,” he added.
The Comelec and the PACC warned government agencies against using their resources for a candidate’s campaign.
The resources are referred to as the budget, manpower, equipment or vehicles of a certain agency.
Under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, acts like vote-buying and vote selling, intervention of public officers and employees, undue influence, and the use of public funds, equipment and other facilities owned and controlled by the government for an election campaign are prohibited.
Meanwhile, Jimenez said that those who hold political offices will be given leeway from the restriction.
“Ang leeway binibigay dun sa mga holders of political offices bakit? Kasi by their very nature, political offices require them to engage them in politics,” the Comelec spokesman said.
“But if you’re in the civil service you’re supposed to be insulated from politics,” he added.
PACC Chairman Dante Jimenez, likewise, appealed to all government sectors to report its officials or personnel who will be directly using the resources of government agencies to support the candidacy of a certain candidate.
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“Napansin ko po ang atin pong mga various agencies, ginagamit and kanilang mga resources, funds, tao, in violation of this law,” he said.
Those who violate the said law, will face one year, to up to six years, of imprisonment. /jpv