Public Ofcers

Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people,
serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead
modest lives. (Constitution, Article !, "ection #$
!t is the policy of the "tate to promote a high standard of ethics in public service. Public officials and
employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost
responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold
public interest over personal interest. (%epublic Act &o. '(#), "ection *$
Qualifications prescribed by the Constitution
1. President and Vice-President
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ at least ./ years of age on the day of the election-
c$ able to read and write-
d$ registered voter- and
e$ resident of the Philippines for at least #/ years immediately preceding the day of the election
2. Senators
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ at least )0 years of age on the day of the election-
c$ able to read and write-
d$ registered voter- and
e$ resident of the Philippines for at least * years immediately preceding the day of the election
3. Members of House of Representatives
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ at least *0 years of age on the day of the election-
c$ able to read and write-
d$ registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected (e1cept party+list representatives$- and
e$ resident thereof for at least # year immediately preceding the day of the election
4. Members of the Supreme Court and lower collegiate court
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ at least ./ years of age-
c$ must have been for #0 years or more a judge of a lower court or engaged in the practice of law in the
Philippines- and
d$ must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence
5. Chairman and Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission (1 Chairman ! Commissioners"
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ at least )0 years of age at the time of their appointment-
c$ with proven capacity for public administration- and
d$ must not have been candidates for any elective position in the elections immediately preceding their
appointment
6. Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission on #lections (1 Chairman $ Commissioners"
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ at least )0 years of age at the time of their appointment-
c$ holder of a college degree-
d$ must not have been candidates for any elective position in the immediately preceding elections- and
e$ majority, including the Chairman, shall be members of the Philippine 2ar who have been engaged in the
practice of law for at least #/ years
7. Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission on %udit (1 Chairman ! Commissioners"
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ at least )0 years of age at the time of their appointment-
c$ certified public accountants with not less that #/ years of auditing e1perience, or members of the
Philippine 2ar who have been engaged in the practice of law for at least #/ years-
d$ must not have been candidates for any elective position in the immediately preceding elections- and
e$ at no time shall all 3embers of the Commission belong to the same profession
8. Chairman and Members of the Commission on Human Rights (1 Chairman & Members"
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ majority shall be members of the 2ar-
c$ the term of office and other 4ualifications and disabilities of the 3embers of the Commission shall be
provided by law
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Public Ofcers
9. 'mbudsman and his (eputies
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ at least ./ years of age at the time of their appointment-
c$ must not have been candidates for any elective position in the immediately preceding elections-
d$ of recogni,ed probity and independence-
e$ members of the Philippine 2ar-
f$ the 5mbudsman must have for ten years and more been a judge or engaged in the practice of law in the
Philippines
Qualifications prescribed by law
1. (epartment Secretaries
a$ citi,en of the Philippines- and
b$ not less than *0 years of age
2. Presiding )ustice and %ssociate )ustices of the Court of %ppeals
a$ same 4ualifications as those provided in the Constitution for 6ustices of the "upreme Court
3. )udges of the Regional *rial Courts
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ at least )0 years of age-
c$ has been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines re4uiring admission to the practice of law as an
indispensable re4uisite for at least #/ years
4. )udges of Municipal *C Met+ *C MC*C
a$ natural+born citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ at least )/ years of age-
c$ has been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines, or has held a public office in the Philippines
re4uiring admission to the practice of law as an indispensable re4uisite for at least 0 years
5. #lective ,ocal 'fficials
a$ citi,en of the Philippines-
b$ registered voter in the barangay, municipality, city, or province, or in the case of a member of the
sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sangguniang bayan, the district where he intends
to be elected-
c$ a resident for at least # year immediately preceding the day of the election-
d$ able to read and write 7ilipino or any other local language or dialect-
e$ age re4uirement8
i. governor vice-governor member of sangguniang panlalawigan ma-or vice-ma-or member of
sangguniang panlungsod of highl- urbani.ed cities + at least *) years of age on election day
ii. ma-or vice-ma-or of independent component cities component cities or municipalities + at least *#
years of age on election day
iii. member of sangguniang panlungsod or sangguninag ba-an + at least #9 years of age on election day
iv. punong baranga- member of sagguniang baranga- + at least #9 years of age on election day
v. sangguniang /abataan + at least #0 years of age, but not more than *# years of age on election day
Terms of Office
a. the President shall have a term of ' years without re+election-
b. the :ice+President shall have a term of ' years, but shall not serve for more than * consecutive terms-
c. a "enator shall have a term of ' years, but shall not serve for more than * consecutive terms-
d. a member of the ;ouse of %epresentatives shall have a term of ) years, but shall not serve for more than
) consecutive terms-
e. term of office of elective local officials, e1cept barangay officials, which shall be determined by law,
shall be ) years and no such official shall serve for more than ) consecutive terms
Impeachment
<he President, the :ice+President, the 3embers of the "upreme Court, the 3embers of the Constitutional
Commissions, and the 5mbudsman may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable
violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public
trust. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by
impeachment. (Constitution, Article !, "ection *$
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Public Ofcers
=rounds for !mpeachment8
1. culpable violation of the Constitution
2. treason
3. bribery
4. graft and corruption
5. other high crimes
6. betrayal of public trust
>ho may be removed thru impeachment8
1. President
2. :ice+President
3. 3embers of the "upreme Court
4. 3embers of the Constitutional Commissions
5. 5mbudsman
Nepotism
P.?. 9/( (<he Civil "ervice ?ecree$ prohibits all appointments in the national and local governments or any
branch or instrumentality thereof made in favor of the relative within the )
rd
degree of consanguinity or of
affinity of8
1. appointing authority
2. recommending authority
3. chief of the bureau@office
4. person e1ercising immediate supervision over the appointee
A1cept the following8
1. persons employed in a confidential capacity
2. teachers
3. physicians
4. members of the Armed 7orces of the Philippines
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