DILG-11 chief cautions gov't workers on social media comments

DAVAO CITY -- The head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Region 11 (DILG-11) has warned government employees against posting criticisms on social media about the government's decision to close down the controversial Kapa Ministry Inc., which is accused of running a large-scale Ponzi scheme.

"It is included in the oath of office... you bind yourself to loyalty (to the government). If you want to criticize the government you should get out of the government," said DILG-11 Director Alex Roldan during Wednesday's AFP- PNP press briefing here.

Roldan said he has monitored social media postings of some government employees criticizing the government following the closure of Kapa, a Surigao del Sur-based religious ministry that has been flagged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for allegedly soliciting investments from its members.

"What is not welcome -- and it saddens me -- is the posting over social media made by government employees for its (government) decision to stop the scam," Roldan said. "They must be careful because Facebook can be a piece of evidence."

Roldan said he has the names of government personnel who posted critical comments against the government's decision, which is being challenged by Kapa Ministry in courts.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered law enforcement agencies to close down Kapa offices in Mindanao earlier this month, alleging that its leaders are engaged in large-scale fraud.

Roldan said the Civil Service Commission should be on the lookout against government workers who are critical of government decisions, saying this was "unethical."

The DILG-11 chief did not cite any specific law that prohibits government personnel from criticizing government decisions, but insisted that "while are you still in the government, please don't do that because you are intimidating the government."

He added: "You cannot threaten a government because it is not good to hear that you are working with the government and then criticize it."

According to Kapa, it has over 5 million members that include government workers ranging from policemen to teachers -- even high-level officials.

A government employee who is a Kapa member described Roldan's statement as "autocratic" and "a violation of free speech."

"We've lost money so it's natural for us to express our disappointment. But to say we're not free from exercising our free speech is tyranny," said the member who works as a firefighter with the Bureau of Fire Protection.

According to Roldan, he has already discussed with DILG Secretary Eduardo Año plans to come up with a policy on government workers participating in dubious investment schemes.

Roldan said government employees should seek assistance on financial literacy and avoid joining "the investment scheme activities". (PNA)