The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) asserted that elected local officials may engage in political and electoral movements.

However, the DILG insisted that it would be unlawful for the elected officials to collect contributions from their constituent staff or push for the activities, pursuant to Section 93 of the Local Government Code of 1991.

The DILG issued the call reminding the elected officials to “refrain from any unlawful act in accordance with the Omnibus Election Code.”

“Comelec [Commission on Elections] Minute Resolution 24-1001 also affirmed this, which states that barangay and SK elected officials are not barred from any campaign or activity in accordance with the political activities of their party they are affiliated with,” the DILG insisted.

Further, the DILG also stated the mandatory requirements to operationalize the independence of the Sangguniang Kabataan. It stressed that Section 20(b) of Republic Act (RA) 10742 states that “the Sangguniang Kabataan shall have financial independence in its operations, disbursements and encashment of its funds, income and expenditures.’’

“As such, the Sangguniang Kabataan funds shall be deposited in the name of the Sangguniang Kabataan of the concerned barangay in a government-owned bank situated in or nearest to its area of jurisdiction with the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson and the Sangguniang Kabataan treasurer as the official signatories,” the DILG continued. 

Earlier, the DILG reminded all government employees, including barangay personnel, to adhere to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) ruling on non-partisan politics ahead of the May 2025 polls.

Under Joint Commission on Elections (Comelec)-CSC Advisory on Electioneering and Partisan Political Activities (Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2016), government employees are strictly prohibited from forming groups, associations, or committees to solicit votes or campaign for/against a candidate; hold political rallies, caucuses and meetings or parades for election campaigning.

In the same advisory, government personnel are barred from making speeches, announcements or media commentaries to support or oppose a candidate; publishing, distributing or displaying campaign materials promoting or opposing a candidate; directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for a candidate or party.

Government employees are also prohibited from using government resources such as time, personnel, facilities, and equipment for political purposes; providing financial or material contributions to candidates or political parties; wearing campaign-related shirts, pins, caps, or accessories, unless authorized by the Comelec and serving as a watcher for a political party or candidate during the election.

Government employees who engage in prohibited partisan political activities may face administrative sanctions under the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS).

First time offenders are suspended for one month and one day to six months while government personnel committing the same offense the second time will be dismissed from the service, including loss of benefits and disqualification from future government employment.

The CSC stated that the prohibitions apply to all government employees, regardless of appointment status, which include the uniformed and active members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla vowed to prosecute police officers found engaged in partisan politics. He promised not to hesitate in filing charges against the erring cops but at the same time assured that “due process of law is observed."

“You have seen my record. I have a very low tolerance for malfeasance lalong-lalo na sa PNP (Philippine National Police) (especially with the PNP),”  Remulla said.

Remulla also expressed full backing to the “Kontra Bigay” campaign spearheaded by the Comelec, saying that this should go hand in hand with a Kontra Tanggap drive.

“Dalawa dapat ‘yan eh, campaign Kontra Bigay at campaign Kontra Tanggap. Two sides ‘yan eh.  Dapat magkasama ‘yun (There should be twin moves, Kontra Bigay and Kontra Tanggap campaigns. There are two sides. They should go hand and hand)," Remulla noted, referring to the government's campaigns against vote-buying and vote-selling. 

The DILG chief insisted not believing in vote-buying even during his time as a Cavite local official.

“I don’t believe in vote buying either, it's never been necessary sa province namin (in our province) but that is a cultural phenomenon that has to be addressed nationally,” Remulla continued.