Declared purpose and policy
- The order targets the practice where civil service officers or employees resign shortly before elections to launch their candidacies or work for the candidacies of others.
- The order addresses the understood expectation of being reappointed to the same or higher government positions if election results favor their candidates.
- The order declares that the practice is prejudicial to the government service because it involves public functionaries and employees in partisan politics.
- The order further identifies the practice as a way to circumvent civil service rules that prohibit pernicious political activity by civil service employees.
What triggers the ineligibility
- A government officer or employee who resigns within three months of any election, whether national or local, triggers the rule.
- The resignation must be made for the purpose of launching his candidacy or promoting the candidacy of another.
- The covered elections include any election that is national or local.
Duration and effect of the ban
- The government officer or employee becomes ineligible for reappointment or reinstatement in the government service.
- The ineligibility period runs for six months after such election.
- The ban applies after the election date referenced by the resignation within the covered pre-election period.
Legal basis and related statutory reference
- The order is anchored on the President’s authority under section 661 (f) of the Revised Administrative Code, as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 177.
- The order is expressly tied to the civil service framework regulating and prohibiting pernicious political activity by civil service employees.
Signatories and issuance mechanics
- Manuel L. Quezon signed as President of the Philippines.
- Jorge B. Vargas signed By the President as Secretary to the President.