Comelec: One-year appointment ban on losing candidates in effect
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia made the remarks after a losing local candidate posted on social media a photo with government officials, thanking them for the opportunity to serve again. The post has been take down.
Sought for comment, an executive assistant of one of the officials seen in the photo told GMA News Online that no appointment has been issued yet because of the ban.
"Nakalagay sa ating Saligang Batas saka sa Election Code na bawal ang kahit anong appointment sa pamahalaan isang taon pagkatapos ang elections," Garcia told reporters.
(The Constitution and the Election Code prohibits appointment one year after the polls.)
"Kung ano ang nature ng appointment, maaaring 'yan ay debatable. Maaaring subject sa interpretation pero kami basta appointment, kino-consider namin na prohibited. Kung paano nila ide-depensa ang sarili nila sila ang bahala diyan. Nasa sa kanila yan," he added.
(The nature of the appointment may be debatable or subject to interpretation but for the Comelec, we consider all appointments as prohibited. How they will defend themselves is up to them.)
The 1987 Constitution states that 'no candidate who has lost in any election shall, within one year after such election, be appointed to any office in the government or any government-owned or controlled corporations or in any of their subsidiaries'.
Violators, including those who issued the appointment, may be subject to criminal, administrative, and civil charges, according to Garcia.
'Inuulit natin, lahat ng natalo sa halalan, 'di pupwedeng maitalaga sa pamahalaan one year after ng elections,' he added.
(Again, all losing candidates are not allowed to hold government positions a year after the polls.) —with Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News
For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
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