CODE ON CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR COMELEC OFFICERS AND

EMPLOYEES
Promulgation: 20 D!m"r 200#
$HEREAS% l!tion i& t' m"o(imnt o) t' *o*ular +ill an( t' ,*r&&ion o) t' &o-rign
*o+r o) t' *o*l% +'i!' -r. (mo!rati! &o!it. 'ol(& &a!r(/
$HEREAS% t' Commi&&ion on El!tion& i& ta&0( +it' t' n)or!mnt an( a(mini&tration o)
all la+& an( rgulation& rlati- to t' !on(u!t o) an l!tion% *l"i&!it% initiati-% r)rn(um
an( r!all l!tion&/
$HEREAS% in !arr.ing out t'ir ta&0& o) n)or!ing an( a(mini&tring l!tion la+& an(
n&uring )r% or(rl. an( 'on&t l!tion&% COMELEC *r&onnl &'all " gui(( ". t' 'ig'&t
&tan(ar( o) intgrit.% 'on&t.% a!!ounta"ilit.% im*artialit. an( tran&*arn!./
$HEREAS% t'r i& a n( to a(o*t norm& o) !on(u!t t'at ar mo&t a**ro*riat to COMELEC
*r&onnl "!au& o) t' (i&tin!ti- an( ,a!ting natur o) t'ir (uti& an( r&*on&i"iliti&/
$HEREAS% t'& norm& o) !on(u!t &'all !on)orm to t' *ro-i&ion& o) R*u"li! A!t No1 #234%
ot'r+i& 0no+n a& t' Co( o) Con(u!t an( Et'i!al Stan(ar(& )or Pu"li! O))i!ial& an(
Em*lo.&%5
NO$% THEREFORE% t' Commi&&ion% ". -irtu o) t' *o+r& -&t( in it ". t' Con&titution o)
t' P'ili**in& an( t' Omni"u& El!tion Co(% RESOL6ED to *romulgat% a& it 'r".
PROMUL7ATES t'i&
CODE OF CONDUCT
AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
FOR COMELEC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
SECTION 31 Co-rag1 T'i& Co( o) Con(u!t an( Et'i!al Stan(ar(& )or COMELEC Pr&onnl
&'all a**l. to all in!um"nt *r&onnl +or0ing in t' Commi&&ion on El!tion&1 Formr
COMELEC *r&onnl ar &u"8!t to t' *ro-i&ion& o) S!tion& 49!: an( ; o) t'i& Co(1
SECTION 21 D)inition o) trm&1 A& u&( in t'i& Co(% t' )ollo+ing &'all man:
a1 COMELEC Pr&onnl an. o))i!ial or m*lo. +or0ing in t' Commi&&ion on El!tion&
'ol(ing a *rmannt or tm*orar. a**ointmnt +'i!' ma. it'r " !o<trminu&%
!on)i(ntial% !ontra!tual or !a&ual1
"1 7i)t a t'ing or a rig't (i&*o&( o) gratuitou&l.% or an. a!t o) li"ralit. in )a-or o) anot'r
+'o a!!*t& it an( &'all in!lu( a &imulat( &al or an un&oli!it( gi)t o) nominal or
in&igni)i!ant -alu not gi-n in anti!i*ation o)% or in ,!'ang )or a )a-or )rom a
COMELEC o))i!ial or m*lo. in rlation to 'i& 8o"1
!1 R!i-ing an. 7i)t in!lu(& t' a!t o) a!!*ting% (ir!tl. or in(ir!tl.% a gi)t )rom a
*r&on ot'r t'an a mm"r o) 'i& )amil. or rlati- a& ()in( in t'i& Co( -n on t'
o!!a&ion o) a )amil. !l"ration or national )&ti-it. li0 C'ri&tma&% i) t' -alu o) t'
gi)t i& nit'r nominal nor in&igni)i!ant% i) t' gi)t i& gi-n in anti!i*ation o)% or ,!'ang
)or a 8o"<rlat( )a-or1
(1 Con)li!t o) Intr&t A !on)li!t o) intr&t ari&& +'n:
31 T' a"ilit. o) a COMELEC m*lo. to " o"8!ti- an( in(*n(nt in 'i&
8u(gmnt in *r)orming 'i& o))i!ial (uti& an( )un!tion& i& taint( or ra&ona"l.
a**ar& to " taint( +it' *artiall. or "ia& )or +'at-r !au& or !au&&1
21 T' "u&in&& or ot'r )inan!ial an( matrial intr&t o) a COMELEC *r&onnl or
'i& rlati- +ill " un(ul. "n)it( ". ra&on o) 'i& o))i!ial a!t1
1 Rlati- an. an( all *r&on& rlat( to a COMELEC o))i!ial or m*lo. +it'in t' t'ir(
!i-il (gr o) !on&anguinit. or a))init.1
)1 Finan!ial an( Matrial Intr&t *!uniar. or *ro*ritar. intr&t ". +'i!' a *r&on +ill
gain or lo& &omt'ing1 9Paragra*' 23% S!tion =2% R-i&( Uni)orm Rul& on
A(mini&trati- Ca&& in t' Ci-il Sr-i!:
g1 Con)i(ntial In)ormation in)ormation not .t ma( a mattr o) *u"li! r!or( +'t'r
rlating to a *n(ing !a& or a(mini&trati- mattr% in!lu(ing not&% (ra)t&% r&ar!'
*a*r&% intrnal (i&!u&&ion&% intrnal mmoran(a% r!or(& o) intrnal (li"ration&% an(
&imilar *a*r& ma( or (on ". t' Commi&&ion% &itting en banc or in (i-i&ion% or ". an.
o) it& o))i!ial&1
T' not&% (ra)t&% r&ar!' *a*r&% intrnal (i&!u&&ion&% intrnal mmoran(a% r!or(& o) intrnal
(li"ration& an( &imilar *a*r& t'at t' C'airman or a Commi&&ionr u&& in (ra)ting a (!i&ion%
r&olution or or(r &'all rmain !on)i(ntial -n a)tr t' &ai( (!i&ion or r&olution i&
*romulgat( or &ai( or(r i& i&&u(1
S!tion 41 Norm& o) Con(u!t )or COMELEC Pr&onnl1 All COMELEC *r&onnl &'all o"&r-
t' )ollo+ing &tan(ar(& o) !on(u!t in t' (i&!'arg an( ,!ution o) t'ir o))i!ial (uti& an(
r&*on&i"iliti&:
a: In(*n(n! an( Politi!al O"8!ti-it.1 In(*n(n! )rom *oliti!al *r&&ur% in)lun! or
,trnal !ontrol to n&ur t' !on(u!t o) !r(i"l an( 'on&t l!tion& in or(r to u*'ol( t' +ill
o) t' l!torat1 A COMELEC *r&onnl mu&t% t'r)or% at all tim&% *rot!t t' in)lun! o)
*oliti!ian&% *oliti!al *arti&% grou*& or a&&o!iation&1 H &'all not:
31 Engag% (ir!tl. or in(ir!tl.% in an. *arti&an *oliti!al a!ti-it. a& ()in( un(r
S!1 2> 9": o) ?ata& Pam"an&a @@31
21 In-ol- 'im&l) a& an o))i!r or mm"r o)% or 'a- a (ir!t or in(ir!t intr&t%
matrial or ot'r+i&% in an. *oliti!al *art.% &!tor or grou* organiA( )or *arti&an
*oliti!al n(&1
41 Soli!it% r!i- or a!!*t an. gi)t% )a-or or "n)it )rom an. *r&on or *oliti!al
*art. or grou* in ,!'ang )or an.t'ing (on or to " (on or not to " (on or
+'i!' +oul( in)lun! or ra&ona"l. a**ar to in)lun! 'im in t' *r)orman!
o) 'i& o))i!ial (uti& an( r&*on&i"iliti&1
;1 A!!*t m*lo.mnt or !on&ultan!. or r!i- ot'r )% rmunration or
allo+an! )rom an. ot'r agn!. or o))i!% +'t'r *ri-at or *u"li!% unl&&
ot'r+i& allo+( ". la+ or ". t' COMELEC rul& an( rgulation&1
=1 A!t% (ir!tl. or in(ir!tl.% a& a la+.r o)% or r!ommn( a *ri-at attorn. to a
!an(i(at% *oliti!al *art. or grou*% litigant% *ro&*!ti- or ot'r+i&% or an.on
o))i!iall. tran&a!ting or (aling +it' t' Commi&&ion1
": Prot!tion an( Pr&r-ation o) t' Intgrit. o) El!tion% R&ult&% El!tion Do!umnt&% Form&
an( Para*'rnalia1 E-r. COMELEC *r&onnl &'all *rot!t% *r&r- an( maintain in-iolat t'
intgrit. o) t' l!tion% it& r&ult& an( all l!tion )orm&% (o!umnt& an( *ara*'rnalia% +'i!' '
0*& in !u&to(. a& *art o) 'i& +or01 E,!*t in a!!or(an! +it' la+ an( t' rul& an( rgulation&
o) t' Commi&&ion% ' &'all not:
31 tam*r% !'ang% mo(i). or altr% in +'at-r mannr an( )orm% t' r&ult o) t'
l!tion/
21 in!ra& or (!ra& t' num"r o) -otr& in t' li&t o) "oo0 o) -otr&/ or
41 *ro-i( l!tion (o!umnt% )orm an( *ara*'rnalia% or ma0 it a-aila"l to an.
*r&on )or an. !on&i(ration1
!: Con)i(ntialit.1 A COMELEC *r&onnl &'all maintain t' !on)i(ntialit. o) an. !la&&i)i(
in)ormation a!Buir( ". 'im ". ra&on o) t'i& o))i!1
31 H &'all not (i-ulg to an unaut'oriA( *r&on an. !on)i(ntial in)ormation
a!Buir( ". 'im (uring 'i& m*lo.mnt% +'t'r &u!' in)ormation !am )rom
aut'oriA( or unaut'oriA( &our!&1
21 Con)i(ntial in)ormation a-aila"l to &*!i)i! COMELEC *r&onnl ". ra&on o)
a &tatut or an a(mini&trati- *oli!. &'all " (i&!lo&( onl. ". t' *r&onnl (ul.
aut'oriA( to (o &o1
41 Unl&& ,*r&&l. aut'oriA( ". t' (&ignat( aut'orit.% ' &'all not (i&!lo& an.
!on)i(ntial in)ormation gi-n ". an. *r&on tran&a!ting +it' t' Commi&&ion
it'r a& a litigant% +itn&& or a la+.r or in an. ot'r !a*a!it.1
;1 Formr COMELEC *r&onnl &'all not (i&!lo& !on)i(ntial in)ormation a!Buir(
". 'im (uring 'i& m*lo.mnt in COMELEC +'n &u!' (i&!lo&ur o) t' &am
in)ormation% i) ma( ". an in!um"nt COMELEC *r&onnl% +oul( !on&titut a
"ra!' o) !on)i(ntialit.1 An. a!t in -iolation o) t'i& *ro-i&ion &'all !on&titut
in(ir!t !ontm*t1
(: A-oi(an! o) Con)li!t o) Intr&t1A COMELEC *r&onnl &'all a-oi( an. !on)li!t o) intr&t
in t' *r)orman! o) 'i& o))i!ial (uti& an( r&*on&i"iliti&1
31 H &'all imm(iatl. (i&!lo& in +riting to 'i& imm(iat &u*rior +'n an. o)
'i& rlati-&% a& ()in( in t'i& Co(% )il& a !rti)i!at o) !an(i(a!. or "!om&
an o))i!r o) a *oliti!al *art.% &!tor or organiAation +'i!' +ill *arti!i*at in an
l!tion or ot'r *oliti!al ,r!i&&1
21 E,!*t )or 'i& m*lo.mnt !ontra!t +it' COMELEC% ' &'all not% (ir!tl. or
in(ir!tl.% ntr into an. !ontra!t +it' t' Commi&&ion )or &r-i!& or la& or
&al o) *ro*rt. or !ommo(it.1 Nit'r &'all ' u& 'i& *o&ition to )a-or an.
rlati- in &!uring an. !onta!t +it' COMELEC1
41 H &'all not *arti!i*at in an. o))i!ial a!tion in-ol-ing a *art. +it' +'om it'r
' or 'i& rlati- i& ngotiating a tran&a!tion &u!' a&% "ut not limit( to% )utur
m*lo.mnt1
;1 H &'all not &oli!it or a!!*t (ir!tl. or in(ir!tl.% an. gi)t% gratuit.% )a-or%
ntrtainmnt% loan or an.t'ing o) montar. -alu )rom an. *r&on +'o 'a& a
tran&a!tion +it' COMELEC1
=1 H &'all not 0no+ingl. *rmit 'i& &ta)) or an. *r&on un(r 'i& in)lun!%
(ir!tion or aut'orit. to a&0 )or a!!*t an. gi)t% "Bu&t% loan or )a-or in rlation
to an.t'ing (on or to " (on or not to " (on in !onn!tion +it' 'i& (uti& an(
r&*on&i"iliti&1 Ho+-r% a COMELEC o))i!r or m*lo. ma. r!i- a to0n%
gi)t% a+ar( or "n)it a**ro*riat to t' o!!a&ion +'i!' it i& ma( *ro-i((% t'at
&u!' gi)t% a+ar( or "n)it &'all not " ra&ona"l. *r!i-( a& intn(( to
in)lun! t' o))i!r or m*lo. in t' *r)orman! o) 'i& (uti& an(
r&*on&i"iliti& or ot'r+i& gi- ri& to an a**aran! o) *artialit. or
im*ro*rit.1
#1 H &'all nit'r m*lo. nor lt an. *r&on u& t' *r&tig o) 'i& o))i! to
a(-an! 'i& *ri-at intr&t or t'o& o) 'i& rlati- or an.on l&1
21 H &'all not !on-. or *rmit ot'r& to !on-. t' im*r&&ion t'at an.on i& in a
&*!ial *o&ition to in)lun! 'im in t' *r)orman! o) 'i& (uti& an(
r&*on&i"iliti&1
To n&ur !om*lian! +it' t' *ro-i&ion& o) t'i& &u"&!tion on Con)li!t o) Intr&t% a
COMELEC *r&onnl +'o 'a& t' aut'orit. to ntr into or a**ro- an. !ontra!t )or t'
Commi&&ion &'all )il a )inan!ial (i&!lo&ur &tatmnt +it' ' (&ignat( aut'orit. at t'
"ginning an( u*on trmination o) m*lo.mnt in &u!' *o&ition% an( annuall. +'il &o
m*lo.( t'rin1 Su!' (i&!lo&ur &'all )ollo+ t' gui(lin& &ta"li&'( ". t' (&ignat(
aut'orit. an( &'all in!lu( all &our!& o) *r&onal an( "u&in&& in!om% in!lu(ing in-&tmnt& in
*r&onal or ral *ro*rt.% a& +ll a& t' in!om r!i-( ". 'i& &*ou& or (*n(nt !'il(rn1
: Commitmnt to Pu"li! Intr&t an( Sr-i!1 COMELEC *r&onnl &'all al+a.& u*'ol( *u"li!
intr&t o-r an( a"o- *r&onal intr&t1 H &'all a"i( +it' 'i& !on&titutional (ut. o) n)or!ing
an( a(mini&tring all la+& an( rgulation& rlat( to l!tion% *l"i&!it% initiati-% r)rn(um
an( r!all l!tion an( u*'ol(ing t' &o-rign +ill o) t' *o*l% +it' 'onor an( ((i!ation%
im"u( +it' t' i(al& o) goo( go-rnan! an( !ommitmnt to ,!lln!1
A COMELEC *r&onnl &'all:
31 O"&r- 'i& +or0<'our &!'(ul an( &'all !arr. out t' ta&0& ntru&t( to
'im +it' (ilign! an( ))i!in!.1
21 Limit 'i& a"&n! )rom 'i& *la! o) +or0 an( tar(in&& in r*orting )or
(ut. to t'o& t'at t' &tri!tl. n!&&ar. an( +it' *rior aut'orit.% ,!*t in
!a& o) illn&&1
41 E,!*t )or 8u&ti)ia"l ra&on% not *o&t*on t' *r)orman! o) 'i& o))i!ial
)un!tion or in ma0ing a (!i&ion in rlation to 'i& o))i!ial (uti&1
;1 U& t' r&our!&% *ro*rt. an( )un(& un(r 'i& o))i!ial !u&to(. &oll. in
a!!or(an! +it' t' *r&!ri"( &tatutor. an( rgulator. gui(lin& or
*ro!(ur&1
=1 R&*on( to lttr&% tlgram& or ot'r !ommuni!ation& &nt ". t' *u"li!
to 'im ". ra&on o) 'i& o))i! +it'in )i)tn 93=: +or0ing (a.& )rom
r!i*t t'ro)1 T' r*l. mu&t !ontain t' a!tion ta0n t'ron1
#1 Attn( to an. *r&on +'o +ant& to a-ail o) t' &r-i!& o) 'i& o))i! an(
mu&t% at all tim&% a!t *rom*tl.% !ourtou&l. an( ,*(itiou&l. on ant
rBu&t% !om*laint or ot'r tran&a!tion *n(ing t'rin1
21 A!t *rom*tl. an( ))i!intl. on an. ta&0 a&&ign( to 'im ". 'i& &u*rior
an( &'all )ini&' t' &am +it'in t' *rio( *ro-i(( t'r)or1
@1 Not ngag in t' *ri-at *ra!ti! o) 'i& *ro)&&ion unl&& aut'oriA( ".
la+ or ". COMELEC rul& an( rgulation&1 T' aut'orit. to ngag in t'
*ri-at *ra!ti! o) la+% notarial &r-i!& or to ta!' ma. " grant(
*ro-i(( t' )ollo+ing rBuirmnt& ar *r&nt:
A1 Aut'orit. to Pra!ti! La+:
31 COMELEC la+.r& &'all &!ur +rittn aut'orit. )rom t'
Commi&&ion En ?an! t'roug' t' Commi&&ionr<In C'arg )or a
limit( aut'orit. to *ra!ti! t' la+ *ro)&&ion u*on
r!ommn(ation ". t' Rgional El!tion Dir!tor !on!rn(1 T'
rBu&t )or aut'orit. to *ra!ti! la+ &'all in(i!at t' *arti&
in-ol-(% t' *art. r*r&nt( ". t' a**li!ant% t'
!ourtC"o(.Ctri"unal +'r t' !a& i& *n(ing an( t' mattr in
(i&*ut/
21 T' a"&n!&% )or !ourt a**aran!&% &'all " !o-r( ". (ul.
a**ro-( -a!ation la-& an( *a&& &li*&% t' *rio( o) +'i!' &'all
" ((u!t( )rom t' la+.r5& a!!umulat( -a!ation la- !r(it&/
41 It &'all not " in r*r&ntation o) a !lint +'o& !au& o) a!tion i&
again&t t' go-rnmnt/
;1 It &'all not in-ol-( t' u& o) go-rnmnt )un(& or *ro*rt./
=1 It &'all not im*air t' la+.r5& ))i!in!. in t' (i&!'arg o)
'i&C'r rgular )un!tion& in t' o))i!/
#1 It &'all " &u"8!t to t' *ro-i&ion& o) R1A1 No1 #234 an( &u!'
ot'r rl-ant Ci-il Sr-i! La+& an( Rul&/
21 T' la+.r& !an a**ar onl. in !ourt& o) la+% o))i!& o) t' Stat
Pro&!utor& 9D*artmnt o) Du&ti!:% O))i! o) t' Om"u(&man
an( Bua&i<8u(i!ial agn!i& (!i&ion& o) +'i!' ar rn(r( ".
*r&i(ntial a**oint&/
@1 Aut'orit. i& )or on .ar &u"8!t to rn+al a)tr r-i+ o) t'
la+.r5& o))i! *r)orman! a& (trmin( ". t' imm(iat
&u*r-i&or/
>1 La+.r& !on!rn( &'all &u"mit a r*ort o) !a&& to " 'an(l(
an( t' num"r o) 'our& in-ol-( t'rin/ an(
301 Pro-i((% t'at t' Commi&&ion r&r-& t' rig't to r-o0 t' &ai(
aut'orit. an.tim1
?1 Aut'orit. to Engag in Notarial Sr-i!&:
31 T' *rmit &'all " limit( to notarial +or0/
21 COMELEC *r&onnl &'all *a. *ro)&&ional ta,/
41 H &'all not *r)orm notarial +or0 (uring o))i! 'our& or u&
&u**li&% &tationr. an( Bui*mnt in !onn!tion t'r+it'/
;1 T' *r)orman! o) t' notarial &r-i! &'all nit'r im*( nor
im*air t' *r)orman! o) 'i& o))i!ial (uti& an( r&*on&i"iliti&/
an(
=1 T' *rmi&&ion ma. " r-o0( an.tim1
C1 Aut'orit. to Ta!':
31 It &'all not ntail an. !on)li!t o) intr&t in&o)ar a& t' )un!tion& o)
t' Commi&&ion i& !on!rn(/
21 Hi& ta!'ing a!ti-iti& &'all nit'r " *r)orm( (uring o))i!
'our& nor ntail t' u& o) go-rnmnt )un(&% o))i! &u**li&%
&tationr. an( Bui*mnt/
41 It &'all not im*air t' m*lo.5& ))i!in!. in t' (i&!'arg o) 'i&
rgular )un!tion& in t' o))i!% an( a"&n!& in!urr(% it an.% &'all
" !o-r( ". (ul. a**ro-( la-/ an(
;1 T' *rmi&&ion ma. " r-o0( an.tim1
): Pro)&&ionali&m1 A COMELEC *r&onnl &'all *r)orm an( (i&!'arg 'i& o))i!ial (uti& an(
r&*on&i"iliti& +it' t' 'ig'&t (gr o) ,!lln!% *ro)&&ionali&m% intllign! an( &0ill an(
+it' utmo&t (-otion an( ((i!ation to (ut.1
31 H &'all (-ot 'i& *ro)&&ional a!ti-it. to 'i& (uti& +'i!' in!lu( not onl. t'
*r)orman! o) 'i& o))i!ial )un!tion& an( r&*on&i"iliti& "ut al&o ot'r ta&0&
rl-ant to t' *ro*r o*ration& o) 'i& o))i!1
21 H &'all &tri- to a!'i- t' 'ig'&t *ro)&&ional !om*tn! an( )urt'r
n'an! 'i& 0no+l(g% &0ill& an( *r&onal Bualiti& n!&&ar. )or t' *ro*r%
))i!int an( ))!ti- *r)orman! o) 'i& (uti& an( r&*on&i"iliti&% ta0ing
a(-antag )or t'i& *ur*o& t' training an( ot'r )a!iliti& +'i!' &'oul( " ma(
a-aila"l ". t' Commi&&ion1
41 H &'all a-oi( im*ro*rit. or an. a**aran! o) im*ro*rit. ". o"&r-ing 'ig'
&tan(ar( o) !on(u!t to *r&r- t' intgrit. an( in(*n(n! o) t'
Commi&&ion1
;1 H &'all a('r an( r&*!t ,i&ting la+& *rtaining to *ro)&&ional +or0 !on(u!t1
=1 H &'all a"&tain )rom &!an(alou&% o))n&i- or mna!ing languag or "'a-ior at
all tim& +'n (aling +it' !o<m*lo.& an( t' *u"li!1
#1 H &'all not u& 'i& o))i!ial *o&ition to &!ur un+arrant( "n)it&% *ri-ilg& or
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