Another petition asks SC to declare BSKE postponement unconstitutional

Young voters have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to declare unconstitutional the law that reset to Nov. 2, 2026 the Dec. 1, 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) and extended the incumbents' term of office from three to four years.

- By REY G. PANALIGAN

In their petition filed Friday afternoon, Aug. 22, they told the SC that many young voters will not be able to run for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) posts since they would be 24 years old after Dec. 1, 2025. Under the law, SK posts are limited to Filipino voters aged 15 to 24 at the time of the elections.

Also, they said that voters who will be 30 years old after Dec. 1, 2025 will no longer be able to vote for SK candidates since the voting for SK candidates are limited to those aged 15 to 30.

Thus, they asked the SC to declare unconstitutional Republic Act No. 12232 that extended the term of office of the incumbent Barangay and SK officials to four years and postponed the elections to Nov. 2, 2026.

They also asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) that would stop the implementation of RA 12232 which was signed into law by President Marcos last Aug. 13.

The first petition against the constitutionality of RA 12232 was filed by lawyer Romulo B. Macalintal.