Public Service Employees Warned Against Campaigns for May Candidates

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-corruption body on Thursday pledged to aggressively attack officials campaigning for mid-term election candidates in May.

Dante Jimenez, chairman of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), said his group "will not spare anyone," which would use the government's resources for partisan political activities.

"Delikado ka, baby," he said about agency heads who would allow, for example, the use of office supplies to promote certain candidates.

The constitution prohibits civil servants and public employees from engaging "directly or indirectly in any political campaign or partisan campaign".

Offenders may be suspended or dismissed.

It is also forbidden for members of the armed forces to participate in "any political activity except to vote".

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

While promising to "make sense" of constitutional restrictions, the PACC also faced the challenge of attacking government candidates, who could also leverage government resources for their campaign.

The president, the vice-president and cabinet members, including their personal and confidential staff, are not subject to the ban on election propaganda or partisan political activities.

But they must not "solicit contributions from their subordinates or subject them to any of the acts" prohibited by the Omnibus Electoral Code.

"Wala kaming sasantuhin," said Jimenez, insisting that all candidates "must understand their responsibilities" during the campaign.

PACC Executive Director Eduardo Bringas urged the public to report violations to the anti-corruption group.

But James Jimenez, spokesman for the Election Commission, tried to "manage expectations," saying the complaints filed would not give "instant results."

"We are following the proper procedures," he told reporters, saying that Comelec and PACC would coordinate to ensure that actual cases are filed.

"We invite the public to be forthright in their reports.