Government employees must avoid partisanship — CSC

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has reminded government employees to uphold political neutrality and avoid engaging in partisan political activities ahead of the May 2025 elections.

Under the Joint Comelec-CSC Advisory on Electioneering and Partisan Political Activities (Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2016), government workers are prohibited from forming groups to solicit votes, attending political rallies or parades, delivering speeches to support or oppose candidates, distributing campaign materials, or using government resources for political purposes.

Employees are also forbidden from donating to candidates, wearing campaign-related items unless authorized by Comelec, and serving as poll watchers.

These rules apply to all government personnel, including those in government agencies, GOCCs with original charters, and state universities and colleges (SUCs). Uniformed members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are also covered. Employees on leave must still comply with these regulations.

Violations may lead to administrative sanctions under the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS), with penalties ranging from suspension (one month and one day to six months) for a first offense to dismissal from service for a second offense.

The CSC also emphasized responsible social media use, reminding employees not to post, share, or comment on political content during office hours or using government-issued devices. Employees are further advised not to disclose official information without proper authorization.

The CSC encourages all government workers to remain professional, impartial, and dedicated to their responsibilities as public servants, both offline and online.