Authority and Legal Basis
- The authority for the order is derived from section 661(f) of the Revised Administrative Code as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 177.
- The order is issued upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Civil Service and the Secretary of the Interior.
Scope of the Order
- Applies to all government officers and employees in the Philippine civil service.
- Covers resignations made within three months of any election, whether national or local.
- Resignations must be for the purpose of launching candidacy or promoting the candidacy of another.
Key Provisions
- Any government officer or employee who resigns for the above-stated reasons is ineligible for reappointment or reinstatement.
- The ineligibility period lasts for six months after the election.
Rationale and Policy Considerations
- To prevent the manipulation of civil service positions for electoral advantage.
- To uphold the integrity and neutrality of the government service.
- To enforce existing civil service rules against political participation by public employees.
Implementation
- The order was signed by the President of the Philippines, Manuel L. Quezon, on February 19, 1941.
- It mandates that civil service officials must comply strictly with the prohibition on partisan political activity surrounding elections.