Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (File photo)
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is reminding workers in government to be “neutral” in their duties even during 2022 election season, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Acting Presidential Spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that was what Duterte meant by his earlier statement that his administration will “stand neutral” during the 2022 polls.
“Lahat naman ng (All) civil servants, lahat naman ng (all) workers in government are required to be neutral sa eleksyon. So ‘yun lang po yung reminder ni Pangulong Duterte sa lahat ng mga (in the elections. So, it’s just the President’s reminder to all) civil servants is to remain neutral during elections,” he said in a Palace press briefing.
Section 2(4), Article IX-B of the 1987 Constitution provides that “no officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign.”
Engaging in partisan political activity refers to an act designed to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office.
However, the provision does not preclude a civil servant, from expressing his or her views on current political problems or issues, or from mentioning the names of candidates whom he or she supports.
In a prerecorded Talk to the People on Monday night, Duterte said his administration stands “neutral” during the 2022 polls.
“This early, I'd like to just – magbigay lang ng payo (I will just give advice) that when it comes to the elections, government, the administration will stand neutral. Neither for or against kami, kalaban o kasama sa partido (We will neither be for or against, opponents or allies in the party), we will participate in the exercise of that right,” Duterte said.
He did not elaborate what he meant by “neutral” but vowed to ensure that the upcoming polls would be peaceful.
“We will see to it that there will be no terrorism, vote buying, at (and) intimidation and everything that would put a hindrance to an honest election,” he added.
The Department of Education (DepEd) also reminded its officials, teaching, and non-teaching personnel not to engage in electioneering and partisan politics.
In a statement on Tuesday, the DepEd said government officials and employees are prohibited from engaging in any electioneering and partisan political activity to ensure civil servants are focused on public service.
“The lists of prohibited acts and excluded activities are emphasized in DepEd Order No. 48, series of 2018, or Prohibition on Electioneering and Partisan Political Activity, and its attached CSC Resolution,” it said.
“Guided by these policies, we call on our personnel and stakeholders to champion a clean, safe, and fair elections in 2022, for our children and for the future of this nation.”
Go’s withdrawal
Meanwhile, Nograles refused to comment on the decision of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go to formalize the filing of his withdrawal from the presidential race in the 2022 polls.
“This is relatively very new development on the ground so we will continue to provide you updates as it comes along. Ganun din po ang sa partido ng PDP-Laban, siyempre mag-uusap pa yung mga miyembro, mga opisyales ng aming partido. At ganun din po sa any comments from the Palace we will provide updates as we go along…at si Pangulong Duterte rin naman po, kung kailangan niya magsalita, gagawin niya sa tamang oras at panahon (The same with the PDP-Laban party, of course members and officers will need to talk. And the same with Palace. We will provide updates as we go along…and the President will talk at the right time),” he said.
On Nov. 30, Go announced he is backing out from his presidential bid, saying his heart and mind contradicted his actions.
Go also cited his family’s opposition to his move to run for president as among the reasons for his withdrawal. (with reports from Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA)
