Individuals wearing health agency shirt during campaign rally not their employees, DOH says

Fee on Election spokesperson James Jimenez reminded the general public that “partisan politics has no place in official features.”

Jimenez issued this reminder after social media customers reported that some candidates are allegedly utilizing the Division of Well being occasions and uniforms for campaigning.

In a quote-retweet to a person, the ballot spokesperson wrote: “Partisan politics has no place in official features.”

Will check with @DOHgovph for remark and acceptable motion. Partisan politics has no place in official features. https://t.co/teEbZ2sKN6

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) February 17, 2022

Jimenez was responding to Twitter person @lilyoftheveil17 who complained concerning the DOH’s involvement in a marketing campaign.

The images confirmed a kids’s vaccination program whereby mascots of electoral candidates have been invited as visitors.

In one other tweet, the identical person shared a screenshot that confirmed a gaggle of people carrying what appeared to be DOH uniforms whereas attending a proclamation rally of a presidential candidate.

The Twitter person tagged the accounts of Comelec and Jimenez on her tweet.

“Ang linaw linaw ng DOH uniform [diyan] sa marketing campaign rally ha @COMELEC @jabjimenez. Oras ng trabaho sa gov’t workplace ng ganitong oras diba?” the person tweeted.

Jimenez quote-retweeted this and warranted her that he’ll endorse the experiences to the DOH for feedback and acceptable actions.

The spokesperson additionally tagged DOH’s official Twitter deal with on his tweets.

“That is being referred to the regional workplace of the @DOHgovph for analysis, acceptable motion, and due course of. #votesafepilipinas,” Jimenez mentioned.

That is being referred to the regional workplace of the @DOHgovph for analysis, acceptable motion, and due course of. #votesafepilipinas https://t.co/azMYbRgX03

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) February 17, 2022

DOH’s response

DOH clarified that the well being staff carrying shirts that bear the company’s title aren’t their staff.

The people are barangay well being staff who work below native authorities items.

“The DOH needs to tell the general public that based mostly on data verified by our regional workplace, the people on the circulating images of a marketing campaign rally aren’t staff of the DOH,” the company mentioned.

“They’re well being staff employed or immediately engaged by LGUs,” it added.

DOH additional defined that the shirts bearing its emblem got here from its varied well being promotion campaigns within the nation.

“As a result of Division’s varied well being promotion campaigns and outreach packages on the bottom, the DOH and its companions have produced and distributed a large number of shirts and paraphernalia bearing the DOH emblem, to well being and non-health staff alike, these coated below CSC guidelines and in any other case,” the company mentioned.

“The Division urges the general public to not use these apolitical supplies for endorsing candidates throughout the 2022 elections,” it added.

Legal guidelines on political neutrality

The legal guidelines on nonpartisanship of presidency officers and staff are said in a number of legal guidelines.

Beneath Part 2 of the Civil Service Fee of the 1987 Structure, the next provision mandates:

“No officer or worker within the civil service shall have interaction, immediately or not directly, in any electioneering or partisan political marketing campaign.”

In Part 5 of Article XVI of the Structure, it was additionally said that the armed forces are additionally prohibited to have interaction in partisan politics.

“Professionalism within the armed forces and enough remuneration and advantages of its members shall be a chief concern of the State. The armed forces shall be insulated from partisan politics,” the availability reads.

“No member of the navy shall have interaction immediately or not directly in any partisan political exercise, besides to vote,” it additionally provides.

The intervention of public officers and staff can be among the many prohibited acts below the Omnibus Election Code.

Furthermore, Republic Act 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Moral Requirements for Public Officers and Workers” additionally mandates the next:

“Public officers and staff shall present service to everybody with out unfair discrimination and no matter social gathering affiliation or desire.”