PNP sees more time to prepare after deferment of barangay, SK polls

MANILA, Philippines—With the next barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections moved to November 2028, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will use the extra time to strengthen its election security preparations.

“We have more time to prepare, so let’s use it well. We can look at what worked, what needs to be improved, and what new concerns we need to prepare for,” said PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. in a statement on Sunday.

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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12326 on Sept. 24, but disclosed its enactment only the following day, just three days before the scheduled start of the filing of certificates of candidacy for BSKE on Sept. 28.

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The law postpones the BSKE from Nov. 2, 2026, to Nov. 13, 2028, or six months after the May 8, 2028 presidential and general elections.

“By the time the elections come, our people should already know their roles and our coordination should already be in place,” Nartatez added.

The PNP said the new law would allow it to adjust its election-security planning and coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), local government units and other agencies.

The police will also draw from its experience during the September 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections, which it assessed as generally peaceful and orderly.

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On Saturday, the enactment of a law postponing the barangay and SK elections drew mixed reactions from House lawmakers, with minority members saying the move would not serve the public interest.

Several groups have also raised concerns over a new law, saying that the move could strengthen political networks ahead of the national elections that year.

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READ: New law on barangay, SK polls, terms under fire

Meanwhile, the Comelec is preparing to reopen voter registration after the deferment of the barangay ad SK elections.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the extended registration period could result in a high number of new registrants, as well as voters seeking to transfer or reactivate their registration.

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“We anticipate a high volume of registrants given the extended timeframe,” he said in an interview on Saturday.  /gsg