Junk Petition vs BSK Poll Postponement, SC Asked

The Liga ng mga Barangay ng Pilipinas has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to affirm the constitutionality of a law that postponed the holding of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) and extended the term of incumbent village officials.

- By DAPHNE GALVEZ

In a 35-page motion, the organization of barangay officials asked the SC to dismiss a petition filed by election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who sought to strike down as unconstitutional Republic Act (RA) 12232.

The law deferred the holding of the barangay and SK elections from Dec. 1 this year to Nov. 2, 2026.

Macalintal sought a temporary restraining order and/or status quo ante order directing the respondents to cease and desist from implementing RA 12232 or to observe the status quo before the law's passage.

The league said the law was constitutional and that Macalintal failed to show that the enactment of RA 12232 into law will violate the Constitution.

The group said the law did not postpone the elections, but merely corrected the term of barangay and SK officials as provided under Sections 3 and 8 of Article X and Section 1 of Article I of the Constitution.