Former Bayan Muna congressman and veteran public sector union leader Ferdinand Gaite demanded the withdrawal of a Civil Service Commission (CSC) directive prohibiting government employees from election-related social media activities.
In a strongly-worded statement on Wednesday, Gaite said CSC’s Memorandum Circular (MC) 3, series of 2025 prohibiting government officials and employees from liking, sharing and commenting in social media about political matters tramples upon the very rights that civil servants are supposed to uphold and defend.
“[It] is too much!” Gaite, long-time leader of the Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE), said.
In its memorandum published March 17, the Commission reminded government employees to uphold political neutrality and avoid engaging in partisan political activities ahead of the May 2025 elections.
It cited the 2016 Commission on Elections-CSC Joint Circular on Electioneering and Partisan Political Activities, strictly prohibiting government employees from certain political activities.
The Commission included in its new memorandum guidelines on so-called Proper Social Media Use, prohibiting posting, sharing or commenting on political content.
Gaite however pointed out that the directive contravenes Section 29 of Republic Act 2260 (Civil Service Act of 1959) which allows government employees to express views on the country’s political problems and issues.
The Bayan Muna third nominee added that the law even allows civil servants to mention names of candidates for public office who they support.
“Preventing government employees from expressing their views on political issues in social media, especially on policies and politicians affecting their rights and welfare as government workers, is curtailing their rights to freedom of expression as workers and as citizens,” Gaite emphasized.
“COURAGE and Bayan Muna will demand that this Memorandum be rescinded by the CSC and take other measures to protect government worker’s rights,” he concluded. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
