The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has clarified the rules on political neutrality for government workers, especially concerning their use of social media during the 2025 midterm elections campaign period, as per CSC Memorandum Circular No. 3, s. 2025.
This comes amid growing concerns after the CSC warned the government officials and employees to not engage in partisan polical activities online.
In a DZRH Special On Saturday interview, CSC Assistant Commissioner for Legal Affairs, Atty. Ariel Ronquillo explained that while liking, sharing, or reposting political content on social media is not automatically prohibited, doing so to promote a candidate may constitute a violation.
“Ngayon dahil laganap na ang paggamit ng social media ang sabi namin po doon kung ang paggamit ng social media such as liking and sharing and reposting and the others, will be used as a means to promote the candidacy of certain person ay ipinagbabawal din po that may be considered as a form of partisan political activity. Pero hindi naman namin sinabi na bawal na ang maglike or magshare [ng mga post ang mga government employee],” he clarified.
The CSC recognized the employees’ right to freedom of expression but cautioned against posts that might be construed as a form of campaigning.
“Ang sinabi po namin doon kung gagamitin ito sa pangangampanya ‘yon ang magiging bawal or kung maglalike ka lang o kaya magsheshare at wala kang ibang sasabihin valid po iyon. Hindi iyon pinagbabawalan dahil maski kami dito sa Civil Service Commission, we recognize that is a part of freedom of expression,” Ronquillo said.
“That is an expression of your preference walang mali doon dahil freedom of expression iyon. Meron po tayong karapatang magpahayag sa gusto nating suportahan huwag lang natin sasamahan ng statement namanghihikayat sa iba na iboto ang tao na ‘yon. Such as ‘vote for this’ ‘suportahan natin siya’ statement like that,” he added.
According to Ronquillo, simply posting or sharing a photo of a candidate without additional commentary is not considered a violation unless it is found to be suggestive of endorsement.
“Ngayon kung pansarili mo lang sinabi mo na ‘I like this’ wala pong problema doon, hindi po iyon violations,” he said.
“Kung litrato lamang ng kandidato ang nakashare ay walang nilalabag ito lalo't kung walang statement pero kung may magreklamo at inimbestigahan ay nalaman na sa pagpost ninyo ay may pinapahiwatig kayo na tila pag-endorso sa kanila iyon ang maaring maging kaso.”
The CSC also reminded public servants that distributing campaign materials, wearing paraphernalia such as t-shirts, ballpens, or fans that promote candidates, is strictly prohibited.
He further said that even relatives of government employees candidates are not exempted from the rules.
“Kahit sino po ang tumatakbo does not qualify, hindi pwedeng ipangampanya kahit kamag-anak niyo pa ‘yan,” he stressed.
However, attending campaign rallies is allowed for government employees, as long as they go merely to listen and observe, without showing support or campaigning.
“Pwede kang pumunta sa mga [campaign rallies] basta pumunta ka lang doon para makinig kasi during elections time po ang mga botante katulad natin has a right to know what are the platforms of the government,” Ronquillo emphasized.
“Mayroon tayong karapatan na suriin ang mga kandidato, mayroon tayong karapatan na tingnan kung makakabuti ba sa atin ang ihahain nilang plataporma kapag nanalo sila and that we can get by listening to their speeches kaya pwede tayong umattend sa rally,” he concluded.
