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First-time voters line up to register for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections at Pinaglabanan Elementary School in San Juan City on Friday, August 1, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Youth groups asked the Supreme Court on Monday to issue a Temporary Restraining Order against the postponement of the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
Ahead of the filing of their petition for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus, the groups went to the SC to amplify the call made by various groups and individuals that the BSKE should proceed this year.
Petitioners include representatives of Kaya Natin! Youth, KASAPI Coalition, Akbayan Youth, Kilos Ko Youth, Liberal Youth, BUILD Youth, Model SK, National Anti-Poverty Commission – Youth and Students Sectoral Council, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines and GoodGovPH.
Respondents include the Office of the President, Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the Commission on Elections.
“Sabi po sa Saligang-Batas at sa Universal Declaration of Human Rights na kailangan ang eleksyon ay regular and periodic, pero ang nangyayari po ngayon ang nagiging regular at periodic, ang postponement ng Barangay and SK elections,” said Kasapi Coalition Convenor Luis Antonio Tolentino, Jr. said.
(The Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights state that elections should be regular and periodic, but what is regular and periodic is the postponement of the Barangay and SK Elections.)
Kontra Daya: BSKE postponement to 2028 risks disenfranchising voters
Last month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12326, which set the terms of barangay officials to five years from four and effectively postponed the BSKE to November 2028.
Acting on the earlier petition filed by veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, the SC directed the OP, Senate, House and Comelec to file their respective comments within five days.
Comelec prepared for Supreme Court ruling on BSKE postponement
The groups stressed that the series of postponements deprive them of their right to exercise their role in nation-building through the BSKE.
Tolentino said poll postponement affects the Sangguniang Kabataan, where youth 24 years old and below can be elected by voters 30 years old and below.
“Kaya hindi lang po ito pagkakaantala kundi permanenteng pagkawala, pagkatanggal, pagkakait ng aming karapatan,” Tolentino said.
(So this is not just a postponement but a permanent loss, removal, and deprivation of our right.)
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