Be neutral, CSC-7 tells govt employees

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CEBU CITY — As the 2025 election season intensifies, the Civil Service Commission in Central Visayas (CSC-7) has reminded government employees to remain politically neutral and refrain from engaging in partisan political activities, both online and in public.

Prolaine Daclan, CSC-7 public information officer and human resource specialist, emphasized that government workers must remain impar-tial, regardless of personal political beliefs.

"We are career employees. Regardless of the political landscape, color or temperature, we must refrain from campaigning for or against any po-litical party or individual," she said on March 19.

Daclan explained that government employees' political rights are limited to voting during elections.

Public servants are prohibited from attending rallies, participating in campaign activities or even wearing apparel and accessories that promote a political candidate or party.

She stressed that while employees may express their opinions on political issues, publicly endorsing or opposing candidates is not allowed.

She cited several legal bases for these restrictions, including Republic Act (RA) 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which strictly prohibits political involvement.

Additionally, Joint Circular 1, Series of 2016, issued by the Commission on Elections and the CSC, further details these prohibitions.

Other laws, such as RA 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991) and Executive Order 292 (Administrative Code of 1987), also uphold the non-partisanship rule for civil servants.

To avoid crossing the fine line between expressing opinions and engaging in partisan activities, the CSC follows a strict neutrality policy, even on personal social media accounts.

Since government employees serve beyond election cycles, the CSC stressed the importance of respecting duly elected leaders, regardless of personal preferences.

Daclan explained that political leaders change over time, but career officials and employees serve until retirement and must remain profes-sional throughout their tenure.

The recent arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte has further intensified political divisions, leading to a surge in online discourse.

Supporters and critics alike have taken to social media to express their views, reflecting deep divisions within the country. This development has also led to an increase in online threats, harassment and hate speech, particularly targeting families of extrajudicial killing victims.

The volatile online environment underscores the need for responsible behavior among public servants, especially on social media platforms.

In a related incident, the Quezon City Police District has filed an inciting to sedition charges against one of its officers for posting videos criticizing the Marcos administration and expressing support for former president Duterte following his arrest.

The officer's actions, deemed partisan, have prompted the Philippine National Police to reiterate its policy of political neutrality among its ranks.