Sotto refutes CSC claim on gambling ban for gov't workers

Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III refuted a Civil Service Commission (CSC) commissioner's claim that no law prohibits government employees from gambling in casinos outside office hours.

Sotto asserted that existing laws and memoranda do prohibit such activities, contrary to the statement made by CSC Commissioner Marilyn Barua Yap.

Yap had reportedly stated during a budget hearing that the only existing prohibition was an executive order from the Office of the President.

This statement was made in the context of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings where several district engineers were found to be frequenting casinos.

The executive order mentioned, Memorandum Circular No. 06, series of 2016, considers mere presence in a casino as conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, unless related to official duties.