THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) yesterday clarified that its Memorandum Circular No. 3, s. 2025 serves only as a reminder to public officials and employees to maintain political neutrality as required of them under the 1987 Constitution.
In a statement, the commission reiterated the need to emphasize the exercise of prudence in using various social media platforms to avoid engaging in partisan political activities.
“The CSC reiterates that government employees may like, share, comment on, or repost election-related content on social media for as long as these actions do not solicit support for or against any candidate or party during the campaign period,” it added.
In MC No. 3 dated March 31, 2025, the commission warned government workers that “liking, comment, sharing, re-posting, or following a candidate’s or party’s account are considered as partisan political activity if these are resorted to as means to solicit support for or against a candidate or party during the campaign period.”
The same policy applies to commenting on or following a candidate or a political party’s account.
Likewise, the circular said the restrictions would remain in effect “not only during but also outside office hours” as well as outside office premises.
The reminder was addressed to members of the civil service in government agencies, government-owned or controlled corporations, state universities and colleges.
It likewise covers those whose employment is permanent, temporary, contractual, or casual. Also career officers holding political posts in acting capacity, uniformed members of the military and the Philippine National Police, and barangay officials.
‘CHILLING EFFECT’
Makabayan senatorial candidate Teddy Casiño said the wordings of the CSC circular curtails the right to expression as it “creates a chilling effect on ordinary government workers who, like all citizens, have the right to engage on issues that matter to them.”
“While we acknowledge the intention of the CSC, such restriction on the right to express an opinion may cross the bounds on the individuals political rights. As long as government employees react and engage on political issues outside office hours and in an ethical manner, then that should not be a problem,” he said.
The former Bayan Muna congressman urged the CSC to revisit the policy and shift its focus to going after politicians who use their offices to compel government workers to attend political rallies and motorcades and to join their campaigns.
He said the CSC should also include the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which is being used as a tool for oppression and red-tagging of progressive candidates.
ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, also a Makabayan senatorial bet, said the assailed memorandum circular violates the constitutional rights of government employees to free expression and political participation.
“By prohibiting even the most basic social media interactions like ‘liking’ or ‘sharing,’ the CSC is effectively silencing nearly two million government workers and stripping them of their fundamental right to engage in democratic discourse,” she said.
Castro also objected to the penalties being imposed for such infraction – suspension for up to six months for a first offense and dismissal for a second offense – for being “extremely harsh,” saying this will instill fear among government workers and prevent them from engaging in legitimate political discourse.
