Government ready to answer petitions vs BSKE postponement

Palace press officer Claire Castro said the Senate and the Commission on Elections are now coordinating with the Office of the Solicitor General, for their next move.

STAR / Ernie Penaredondo

MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration is prepared to justify President Marcos’ decision to sign into law the measure postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) originally slated for next month, to 2028, Malacañang said yesterday.

Palace press officer Claire Castro said the Senate and the Commission on Elections are now coordinating with the Office of the Solicitor General, for their next move.

“But they are ready to respond immediately and follow the order of the Supreme Court once they receive a copy of the petition. Within five days from receipt of the said petition, they will comply,” Castro said in a briefing.

Castro said Marcos and the lawmakers believe that postponing the barangay and youth council polls is the right thing to do.

“The Office of the Solicitor General will fight for the stance of the executive (branch), Comelec and the Senate,” the undersecretary added.

The postponement of the BSKE is contained in Republic Act 12326, which fixed the term of office of village and youth council officials to five years.

The measure, signed into law last Sept. 24, permitted incumbent officers to remain in their posts for two additional years. The new law states that no elective barangay official shall serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same position and no elective youth council official shall serve for more than one term in the same post.

With the extension of their terms by two years, incumbent elective barangay officials will be regarded as having completed one term in their respective positions. Incumbent officials serving their last term in the same post can no longer run for the same position in the November 2028 BSKE.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal earlier filed a petition questioning the legality of the law, saying it violates the electorate’s right to vote by postponing the 2026 BSKE under the guise of fixing the officials’ term of office. He argued that the law effectively allows incumbent barangay and SK officials to “hold over” their positions for three years or from December 2025 to November 2028.

The Supreme Court has directed the respondents, including the Office of the President, to comment on the petition.