The looming May 2022 national elections may have raised a few concerns for some citizens especially government employees like whether or not they can express publicly their support for a particular candidate as well as their limitations in doing so and the University of the Philippines (UP) - College of Law in a series of infographics shared on social media, specifically addressed some of the major queries surrounding this topic.

According to the college, a government employee is not prohibited from supporting and voting for a desired candidate and that being one does not strip them of their constitutional rights as a citizen which includes the freedom of speech and expression as well as the right for suffrage.

However, the manner of which to show support for a particular candidate may be regulated by the law and the Constitution, they added.

"You are allowed to publicly express your views or opinions on current political problems or issues, probable issues in a forthcoming election, or on the attributes of or criticisms against probable candidates proposed to be nominated in a forthcoming political party convention," UP College of Law stated in the infographics.

Government employees, according to the college, are also allowed to mention the names of candidates for public office that they support whether through personal means or on social media. This includes liking, commenting, sharing, reposting or following a candidate's or party's account online.

"However, if these are resorted as a means to solicit support for or against a candidate or party during the campaign period, this may be covered by the prohibition against electioneering or partisan politics," it added.

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As for the limitations, government employees are prohibited from directly or indirectly engaging in any election campaign or any partisan political activity but the application of the prohibition further depends on whether they are a government employee covered or exempted from the prohibition, UP College of Law said.

This includes the President and the Vice President; Members of the cabinet; other elective officials and their personal and confidential staff, except barangay officials; Personal and confidential staff of the mentioned officials; and Members of the reserve corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"Election campaign or partisan political activity refers to 'any act designed to have a candidate elected or not, or to promote the candidacy of a person to public office. It is also synonymous to electioneering or partisan political campaign," it said.

On the question of when the prohibition sets in, according to UP College of Law, the ruling in Peñera vs COMELEC limited the application of campaign regulations and prohibitions to the campaign period and Joint Resolution No. 1600290 limited the coverage of the prohibition to the campaign period of the applicable election.

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In the announcement made by the Comelec in Resolution No. 10695 dated Feb. 10, 2021, the campaign period for the 2022 elections are as follows: Feb. 8 to May 7, 2022 will be for Presidential, Vice Presidential, Senatorial candidates and Party-list groups participating in the party-list system of representation while March 25 to May 7, 2022 will be for members of the House of Representatives and elective regional, provincial, city and municipal officials.

During this period, prohibited acts may not be committed. Failure to do so will result in an election offense and/or an administrative offense.