Comelec not banning government consultants, contractual workers

Contractual employees and government consultants are not covered by the prohibition under the Omnibus Election Code, which stipulated that public servants are barred from engaging in politics during the poll period.

Provincial election supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano disclosed that only those government employees covered by the Civil Service Commission are warned against involving themselves in political campaigns.

The election law specifies that civil servants must remain apolitical and maintain a non-partisan attitude.

Section 261 of the Omnibus Code states that any officer or employee under the CSC, except those holding political offices who, in one way or the other directly or indirectly intervenes or engage in partisan politics, is liable under the law and would face corresponding sanctions for violation.

Castillano said, "the law is aimed at equalizing the opportunity in political campaign resources between opposition candidates and incumbents running again for public office."

With barely less than a month left for the campaign season, the Commission on Elections likewise issued a warning to candidates against using government resources in their political campaign sorties or else face penalty for election offense.

Any election-related offense penalizes the violator between one to six years imprisonment, suspension of right to suffrage or perpetual disqualification from public service.

Aside from the Comelec, the CSC also has separate penalties for government employees guilty of politicking, as violators can expect an administrative fine apart from disqualification from holding public office or from being employed in government service.

However, Castillano said he has not yet heard of any case in Cebu in which one was found guilty of electioneering, or candidates using government employees and resources. - Gregg M. Rubio/MEEV