As the 2025 Midterm and Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections draw closer, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has reminded government employees anew that political neutrality does not end when they log on to Facebook.
In its latest Memorandum Circular No. 03, s. 2025, issued on March 31, the CSC warned that public servants caught engaging in partisan activity online, whether by “liking,” sharing, commenting on, or following political pages, may face serious penalties.
“Social media functions such as ‘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 circular read.
The warning applies to all government workers, regardless of employment status—permanent, casual, job order, or even on leave. Also covered are employees of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), state universities and colleges, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), as well as barangay officials.
“Given their nature, the prohibited activities may be committed not only during but also outside office hours,” the CSC said.
Under existing rules, those found guilty of engaging in partisan political activities face suspension from one month and one day to six months for the first offense, and dismissal from service for the second.
This reiteration of policy comes alongside the still-enforced CSC-Comelec Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2016, which lists a broader scope of banned political actions such as organizing or joining vote-soliciting groups, attending rallies or caucuses, making political speeches or posts, distributing campaign materials, or being publicly identified with a particular party or candidate.
Even simply wearing campaign-branded shirts, pins, or caps or attending political rallies repeatedly can be construed as grounds for administrative action if these are interpreted as acts of endorsement.
The constitutional basis for these restrictions remains clear. Article IX-B, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution mandates that “[no] officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign.”
Still, there is an exception: elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials, who may legally engage in partisan activity under a Comelec issuance following a Supreme Court ruling.
The reminder lands with weight as the May 12 polls approach. For civil servants, the line between personal expression and prohibited campaigning has never been thinner and watching, liking, or posting the wrong thing could be enough to cross it. By Jess Christley Marquez
