Question relatives in one office

Good day!. A cousin of mine (1st degree) applied and was luckily accepted in our hospital and is assigned at the Procurement Section. Now due to recent retirement of our CAO, movement was necessary, that I was recently, Aug 20, 2021 to be exact, designated thru a Hospital Order signed by our Medical Center Chief to be the OIC of the said Section, where my cousin is also assigned. Is there any provisions in our CSC guidelines that my assignment is in any way violating? Should I raise the matter to our HR/Director? Please advise. Thank you very much.

Hi Ely,

As a matter of policy, this Office refrains from rendering categorical opinion on matters and issues that may later on be the subject of an administrative proceeding before the Commission either via an appeal or a complaint. This is to preclude the possibility of prejudgment should an actual administrative case be commenced or instituted based on the said matters or issues.

Be that as it may, your attention is invited to Section 125, Rule XII, 2017 ORAOHRA, which provide for the rules on nepotic appointments and other human resource actions, to wit:

“Sec. 125. No appointment in the national government or any branch or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters shall be made in favor of a relative of the appointing or recommending officer/authority, or of the chief of the bureau or office or of the person exercising immediate supervision over the appointee.

“Unless otherwise provided by law, the word “relative” and the members of the family referred to are those related within the third degree either of consanguinity or of affinity.

“In the local government career service, the prohibition extends to the relatives of the appointing or recommending officer/authority within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity. However, for the non-career service in the local government, the prohibition extends to the third degree either of consanguinity or of affinity of the appointing or recommending officer/authority, or head of office, or of the person exercising immediate supervision over the appointee.

“The following are exempted from the operation of the rules on nepotism:

“a. persons employed in a confidential capacity
“b. teachers
“c. physicians
“d. members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
“e. science and technology personnel under RA No. 8439
“f. other positions as may be provided by law

“The nepotism rule covers all kinds of appointments whether original, promotion, transfer, and reemployment regardless of status, including casual, contractual and coterminous but are not primarily confidential. This rule shall also apply to designation.”

Please note that the said rule refer to such human resource actions in favor of relatives of the appointing or recommending officer/authority, or of the chief of the bureau or office or of the person exercising immediate supervision over the appointee.

Hope to have enlightened you on the matter.

Hi Ely,

As a matter of policy, this Office refrains from rendering categorical opinion on matters and issues that may later on be the subject of an administrative proceeding before the Commission either via an appeal or a complaint. This is to preclude the possibility of prejudgment should an actual administrative case be commenced or instituted based on the said matters or issues.

Be that as it may, your attention is invited to Section 125, Rule XII, 2017 ORAOHRA, which provide for the rules on nepotic appointments and other human resource actions, to wit:

“Sec. 125. No appointment in the national government or any branch or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters shall be made in favor of a relative of the appointing or recommending officer/authority, or of the chief of the bureau or office or of the person exercising immediate supervision over the appointee.

“Unless otherwise provided by law, the word “relative” and the members of the family referred to are those related within the third degree either of consanguinity or of affinity.

“In the local government career service, the prohibition extends to the relatives of the appointing or recommending officer/authority within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity. However, for the non-career service in the local government, the prohibition extends to the third degree either of consanguinity or of affinity of the appointing or recommending officer/authority, or head of office, or of the person exercising immediate supervision over the appointee.

“The following are exempted from the operation of the rules on nepotism:

“a. persons employed in a confidential capacity
“b. teachers
“c. physicians
“d. members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
“e. science and technology personnel under RA No. 8439
“f. other positions as may be provided by law

“The nepotism rule covers all kinds of appointments whether original, promotion, transfer, and reemployment regardless of status, including casual, contractual and coterminous but are not primarily confidential. This rule shall also apply to designation.”

Please note that the said rule refer to such human resource actions in favor of relatives of the appointing or recommending officer/authority, or of the chief of the bureau or office or of the person exercising immediate supervision over the appointee.

Hope to have enlightened you on the matter.

thank you so much for your response ma'am/sir. if i may add another question/request, may you advise me on what to recommend with out HR since they are seemingly unaware of what to, since they asked me instead of what to do? again thank
you very much. apologies as well..

Hi Ely,

It is advised for the HR office of your agency/office to seek the assistance of the CSC Regional Office with jurisdiction over your office/agency. The Regional Office shall capably advise you on the matter considering that the inquiry pertains to a human resource action.

Moreover, the HR office may raise their concerns to the CSC thru the Office for Legal Affairs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or the Human Resource Policies and Standards Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or thru this forum.

thank you very much!!! God Bless and Stay safe!