Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9416)
The main policy declared is to ensure honesty, integrity, and the merit and fitness principle as the measures for entry into the public service by declaring any form of cheating in civil service examinations illegal and unlawful.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has exclusive jurisdiction to investigate and decide these cases, including those committed by private individuals.
Cheating includes any act or omission before, during, or after the examination that undermines its integrity such as impersonation, use of crib sheets, employing 'postes', tampering with records, collusion, examinee number switching, possession or use of fake certificates of eligibility, and other similar acts.
Examination-related materials include any materials used by the CSC or related agencies in the conduct of examinations, such as computer or electronic program files and data, test questions, answer sheets, and test booklets.
Convicted individuals face imprisonment of six years and one day to twelve years, a fine of at least P50,000, and if a government employee, dismissal, forfeiture of benefits, cancellation of eligibility, bar from government exams and service; if a non-government employee, disqualification from government exams and service.
Statistically improbable results declared by the CSC serve as prima facie evidence of examination irregularity or cheating.
Yes, review centers or entities offering tutorials can be held liable and penalized including revocation of license/permit if they commit or directly or indirectly facilitate cheating.
The CSC has powers to investigate and prosecute cases, request assistance from other agencies, issue subpoenas, punish for contempt, and continuously review examination systems to maintain integrity.
Yes, the CSC may grant immunity from prosecution to a person whose testimony is vital for prosecuting other perpetrators of examination irregularities.
Government employees found administratively liable shall be dismissed with all penalties; non-government employees will be perpetually barred from entering government service or taking government exams.