The Schools Division Office of Taguig and Pateros under the Department of Education (DepEd) warned officials, and teaching and non-teaching personnel that they are prohibited from engaging in electioneering and partisan political activities in relation to the May 12 national and local elections.
Schools Division Superintendent Cynthia Ayles issued a division memorandum to remind on the prohibition of electioneering and partisan political activities based on a DepEd regional memorandum, DepEd order and Commission on Elections resolution.
The DepEd Schools Division of Taguig and Pateros (Photo from DepEd TAPAT Facebook page)
“The memorandum emphasizes that DepEd prohibits partisan political activities, including but not limited to electioneering, campaigning, or the grant of monetary incentives to learners or DepEd personnel and reaffirms the policy on the prohibition of vote-buying and vote-selling and other prohibited actions as outlined in Article II and Article III of Comelec Resolution No. 11104, promulgated on January 28, 2025,” the division memorandum read.
DepEd memorandum issued on Feb. 28 states that “ In light with the Department Of Education (DepEd)'s commitment to upholding educational integrity and safeguarding our learners from political bias and influence, DepEd prohibits partisan political activities, including but not limited to electioneering, campaigning, or the grant of monetary incentives to learners or DepEd personnel.”
“Additionally, DepEd reiterates the policy on the prohibition of vote-buying and vote-selling and other prohibited acts provided by Article Il and Article Ill of Comelec Resolution No. 11104 promulgated on 28 January 2025,” the memorandum added.
DepEd issued Order No. 48 in 2018, stating, “The Department of Education (DepEd) issues a reminder to all its officials, teaching and nonteaching personnel on the constitutional prohibition against electioneering and conduct of partisan political activity. Article IX-B, Section 2(b), paragraph 4 of the 1987 Constitution states that no officer of employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign.”
“The Omnibus Election Code, as amended, prohibits government officials and employees from engaging in any electioneering and partisan political activity and considers the commission thereof as an election offense punishable by law. The same prohibition is found in Book V, Title Chapter 7, Section 55 of the Executive Order No. 292, or the Administrative Code of 1987,” it added.