Customs Personnel Reminded Vs. Partisan Activities

The Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu on Tuesday reminded its officials and employees not to engage in any partisan political activity like soliciting and accepting contributions for political candidates in the upcoming mid-term elections.

BOC-Cebu District Collector Elvira Cruz said officials and employees will face both criminal and administrative complaints if they will be caught in the act of engaging in political activities.

“I issued a memo last week, emphasizing that we, officials and employees, of Customs who are covered under the Civil Service law, are not allowed to join in any political event,” Cruz told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Cruz, however, said her office received no report about Customs personnel involved in politicking. “We will continue to monitor,” she said.

In a memorandum she issued on March 19, Cruz said it is prohibited for Customs personnel to engage in “electioneering, engaging in political activities, and soliciting contribution for political candidates.”

She reminded personnel that under section 261 (i) of the Omnibus Election Code, “intervention of public officers and employees” in election-related activities is considered an election offense.

The Customs collector likewise said they must not solicit or collect monetary contributions for political candidates.

The memo stated that section 95 of the same election law provides that “officials and employees in the Civil Service, or members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines” are prohibited from contributing or soliciting contributions for partisan political activity.

“The personnel who will get caught violating my memo will be given due process. But certainly, they will face investigation,” Cruz said. (PNA)