Manila, May 13 -- Losing candidates in the May 12, 2025 midterm polls can be appointed to government positions by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., as the one-year ban on the measure has already lapsed on Wednesday.

"Those who lost in 2025 can be appointed starting today (Wednesday)," Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in a Viber message.

Section 6 of Article 9 (b) of the 1987 Constitution states that those who lost in any election are prohibited from being appointed to government posts within one year after that election.

The prohibition is to prevent abuse of the power of appointment and to ensure equal opportunity for public service.

Asked if this opportunity is usually used by the President to make appointments to his C...