Public officials and employees are not allowed to solicit or accept gifts of any monetary value from whom?

Public officials and employees are prohibited from soliciting or accepting gifts of any monetary value from any person to prevent conflict of interest and maintain the integrity of public service. This rule is fundamental to ensure that officials remain impartial and do not engage in any conduct that could compromise their duties to the public or create favoritism. The provision is aimed at protecting the public interest and ensuring that decisions made by public officials are based solely on merit and public service rather than influenced by personal gain or relationships.

Gifts from any source, whether it be individuals, organizations, or corporations, can potentially lead to situations where the motivations behind official actions are called into question, thereby undermining public trust. Therefore, the overarching principle is to maintain transparency and accountability in public service by eliminating any opportunity for corruption or bribery through gifts, regardless of the giver's identity.

The other choices relate to different groups of individuals, but the critical point of R.A. No. 6713 is that the restriction applies universally to ensure that there are no exceptions or ambiguities when it comes to acceptance of gifts.