The Department of Public Works and Highways warned all public works field personnel to desist from taking part in any partisan political activities, following reports that some DPWH workers were allegedly seen installing campaign posters of administration senatorial bet Bong Go in Nueva Ecija.
However, Public Works and Highways Assistant Secretary Eugenio Pipo denied the allegations, saying the DPWH field workers were removing the campaign materials for violating campaign rules and upon the instructions of the Commission on Elections.
The alleged report prompted Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar to issue an order to all DPWH field officials and personnel ordering them to refrain from taking part in partisan political activities based on existing
laws prohibiting government employees from joining any political activity, including campaigning.
Villar said any DPWH official or employee found to engage in any political activities will face administrative charges.
In a report submitted by DPWH maintenance section chief Celso Castillo to Villar, the persons photographed by netizens which circulated in social media were not installing election paraphernalia, but were in fact removing the tarpaulins in compliance with Department Memorandum Circular No. 05, Series of 2019, dated Jan. 14, 2019 and Section 3.5 of Comelec Resolution No. 10471 promulgated on Dec. 18, 2018.