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/File
MANILA — Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has filed a petition before the Supreme Court on Sunday night, seeking a temporary restraining order against the enforcement of the law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Macalintal told DZMM Teleradyo said he electronically filed the petition against the newly passed Republic Act No. 12326, or the Act Fixing the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan to Five Years.
"Naghain na ako ng kaukulang petisyon ngayong gabi sa ilalim ng electronic filing," said the lawyer. "Ito ay Certiorari and prohibition with a prayer for a temporary restraining order."
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Macalintal questioned the hasty passage of the law without allowing the public to scrutinize the legislation.
"Mabilis pa sa kidlat ang pag approve ng nasabing batas at ginawa itong immediately executory," he said.
"Naaprubahan lamang noong Sept. 24, inilabas sa media nung Sept. 25, ginawang effective immediately noong mapublish 'yan noong Sept. 25 at ang publication ay sa Official Gazette lang. Hindi pa napapublish sa newspapers."
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the law postponing this year’s barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections (BSKE) to November 2028.
This gave incumbent officials a three-year term extension.
"Tatlong taon. Tatlong taong postponement. Sabi ng Korte Suprema pwede kang mag-postpone pero hindi masyadong mahaba, pero yung tatlong taon napakahabang extension," said Macalintal.
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"Dati-rati three-year term lamang, ngayon three-year extension ang ibinibigay sa mga barangay officials na yan. Kaya iyan ay paglabag sa ating karapatan na tayo'y makaboto," he added.
The President said he has allowed the term extension to give the incumbent barangay officials additional time to serve.
"Sa paglagda natin sa Republic Act No. 12326, na nagtatakda ng limang taong termino para sa mga opisyal ng barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan, malinaw ang ating inaasahan sa ating mga kasalukuyang opisyal. Gamitin ang panahong ito upang mas pagbutihin ang serbisyo, tapusin ang mga nasimulang programa at mas tutukan ang pangangailangan ng bawat komunidad, pamilya at kabataan," Marcos Jr. said.
But Macalintal found the reason invalid.
"Walang valid reason kung bakit pinopostpone nila ang halalan. Kasi sabi nga ng Korte Suprema bago mapostpone ang isang halalan dapat may compelling reason o mabigat na kadahilanan kung bakit ipopostpone ang eleksyon," he said.
Last Friday, election watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) had also expressed dismay on the law's enactment and said it is seriously considering going to the Supreme Court to challenge the measure.
The group earlier urged Marcos Jr. to veto the measure, calling it unconstitutional and "in direct contrast with the principle of accountability."
Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Friday that they are mandated to follow the law. The Comelec had cancelled all activities relating to the BSKE, including the filing of certificates of candidacy that was originally scheduled for September 28 to October 5.
"Hanggat hindi po tayo pinapahinto o hindi po tayo nakakakuha ng kahit anong restraining order mula sa Korte Suprema, we have to maintain the status quo," said Garcia. "Kung anu't ano man po ang mangyayari sa mga susunod na araw, then diyan lang po ako kikilos at gagawa ng karampatang aksyon ang inyong Commission on Elections."
The poll body spent P8 billion for the November 2026 BSKE polls, according to Garcia.
The remaining P11 billion budget allotted for the village elections this year will instead be used for the preparation of the 2028 national and local elections.
For the meantime, Comelec will "safekeep" the printed ballots in their warehouses.
— with a report from Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News
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