Thread by @rapplerdotcom

Bawal bang mangampanya ang teachers at government employees? Samahan sina Rappler investigative editor @miriamgracego at election lawyer @13thFool sa episode na ito ng #AskYourElectionLawyer.

PANOORIN DITO:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Nakasulat sa Constitution that gov’t employees are not allowed to engage in partisan political activity. Even in the Administrative Code, the Omnibus Election Code nakasulat. There’s also a ban on donation from a gov't official to a candidate.

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: To simplify, pinagbabawalan po ang active campaigning. However ang sinasabi natin dito, hindi absolute ang rule. Hindi naman sinasabi na dapat completely mag-participate, kundi merong limitasyon.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool Ano ba ang partisan political activity?

.@13thFool: Ito ‘yung pag-form ng organization, hold ng political meetings, rallies, pamimigay ng leaflets, directly pag-solicit ng votes.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: But this is not absolute. Puwedeng magsuot ng t-shirt, cap, election paraphernalia, provided na walang pangalan ng kandidato na nakasulat doon.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Hindi rin ipinagbabawal na umattend ng political rally ang gov’t employees because this is also an opportunity for them to get to know the candidates.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Ang pinagbabawal po ay continuous presence in a rally, kasi hindi na ang purpose mo ay para makilala ang kandidato, it is already an active support.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Bawal din daw po ang continuous companionship or sumasama ka sa actual na kampanya to the point na identified ka na sa kandidato.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: The wisdom [behind the prohibition] is you want a government that appears to be neutral because the gov’t has the power of the purse. Puwedeng magamit ang resources ng gobyerno to improve the chances of a candidate.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: We want to make the gov’t neutral so that everyone will have an equal playing field pagdating sa eleksiyon. Pero ang pinag-uusapan natin is tama ba ang regulasyon?

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: There are certain officials that are exempted from the [prohibition]. For example, political offices: presidente, Kongreso, yung mga senador, and even ‘yung mga confidential staff and lahat ng elective officials.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: So if you come to think of it, ano ang wisdom ngayon ng batas in relation to this exemption? Because these people who are exempted are the ones who call the shots in government.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: It’s a question of whether, with all these exemptions, may sense pa ba ‘yung batas?

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: What if you are a janitor? So pasok ka sa prohibition. Pero ano ba ‘yung harm kung ‘yung janitor ang nag-express ng support for a candidate, as against a president actively supporting a candidate? Yet exempt siya (ang president).

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: I think this should be a continuing conversation as regards the scope, o ano yung dapat ipagbawal.

#AskYourElectionLawyer: