Santos v. Yatco, G.R. No. L-16133, November 6, 1959
DOCTRINE: Disabilities and Inhibitions of Public Officers
FACTS:
Judge Yatco issued an order disallowing the Secretary of
National Defense from conducting a house-to-house campaign on behalf of Gov.
Tomas Martin. Thus, the Secretary-petitioner filed a complaint for prohibition
of the order, enjoining the enforcement thereof, claiming that he is not
covered by the 1935 constitutional prohibition stating that, “No officer or
employee in the Civil Service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any
electioneering or partisan political campaign.
ISSUE:
Are cabinet members engage in partisan political activity?
RULING:
Officers and employees in civil service are prohibited from
taking part in partisan political activities. However, the Secretary of
National Defense is not embraced within the terms “officers and employees in the
civil service.”
Hence, the Court set aside the injunction on Santos, holding
that Cabinet Members, being alter egos of the President, were in fact chosen
principally for their political influences. Thus, they were expected to exert
for the purpose of ensuring support for the administration.
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