The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday issued a stern warning to its officials and personnel to stand by the agency’s mandate of “political neutrality” throughout the 150-day election period for the 2019 midterm polls. “This is why it has to be closely regulated.”Article 9 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.”List of partisan activitiesDepEd Order No. 48, issued in 2018, enumerated an extensive list of activities that would be considered partisan and political. At the same time, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) appealed to the CSC to remind all government officials and personnel on the prohibition to engage in partisan political activities ahead of the May 13 midterm polls. “A reminder to civil servants from @PHCivilService would be welcome right about now,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez on his Twitter account @jabjimenez.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 15, 2019 21:33 UTC