The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has denied endorsement of any review material or center for its Career Service Examination (CSE).

CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles issued a warning to the public on Friday, Feb. 3, about review centers, organizations, and private individuals offering online and in-person review classes for the CSE Professional and Subprofessional Levels under the name, logo, and website of the CSC or claiming to be endorsed by the commission.

In addition, he cautioned examinees against purchasing review materials claiming to be copies of the actual tests that the CSC had previously given, which can be found in bookstores, on social media, and on internet marketplaces.

“Sa tuwing nalalapit ang civil service exam, talagang naglalabasan ang mga review centers and reviewers na nag-aalok umano ng tutorials sa murang halaga (Every time the civil service exam approaches, review centers and reviewers appear that offer tutorials at low cost). We are once again reminding the public that the CSC does not prescribe, accredit, or endorse any form of review classes, nor do we produce or disseminate any review materials for the CSE. Enrollment in review centers and purchase of these products are the sole discretion of applicants,” Nograles said.

Under Republic Act No. 9416, also known as the Anti-Cheating Law, the unauthorized possession, use, reproduction, and/or dissemination in any form of examination materials, in whole or in part, by an individual, either private or government employee, group, or review center, from an unauthorized source is considered cheating.

Any person who commits the prohibited act may face imprisonment for not less than six years and one day, but not more than 12 years, and a fine of not less than P50,000.

For this purpose, the following acts are prohibited: copying examination questions; tearing any page of the test booklet; bringing home the test booklet or any page thereof and other similar instances, such as possession of review centers’ test booklets.