.jpg)
Comelec Board of election Inspectors and poll clerks begin the counting of ballots as voting ends at the Paranaque Elementary School Central in Paranaque City on October 30, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – Election watchdog Kontra Daya on Monday criticized the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to 2028, saying the move could deprive Filipinos of their right to choose their local leaders.
Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao called President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signing of Republic Act No. 12326 “very unwise” and “very ill-advised,” questioning whether the government conducted sufficient studies before extending the terms of incumbent barangay and SK officials.
“You know, Republic Act 12326 is only five pages long but its impact is long-term in terms of depriving the people’s right of suffrage as well as ensuring that direct services will be really performed at the barangay level,” Arao said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart.
Marcos signed RA 12326 on Sept. 24, moving the next BSKE from November 2026 to November 2028 and fixing the terms of elected barangay and SK officials at five years. The law also provides for continuing training and capacity-building programs for barangay and SK officials.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had been preparing for the Nov. 2, 2026 polls, with the filing of certificates of candidacy originally scheduled to begin on Sept. 28. Following the signing of the new law, Comelec canceled activities for the 2026 BSKE.
‘VESTED POLITICAL INTERESTS’
Arao questioned the government’s argument that incumbent officials needed additional time to continue programs and improve services in their communities.
He said not all barangays could be functioning properly and that extending the terms of officials without elections could prevent voters from choosing new leaders.
“What happens to those who were elected in 2023 who are already relatively old by SK standards?” Arao said.
“So up to now, up until 2028, they will be overaged already by law and they will still be functioning. What’s going to happen to them? What’s going to happen to the residents who are expecting direct services?”
Arao also raised concerns about the political implications of extending the terms until 2028, noting that the presidential elections are scheduled for May of that year while the next BSKE is set for November.
“That means that those who carry favors for the administration will still be holding office at the barangay level,” he said. “So, such vested political interests should also be part of the conversation.”
Arao said barangay and SK officials could potentially be tapped for activities at the grassroots level during the 2028 national elections, including organizing rallies and displaying campaign materials.
He also cited Kontra Daya’s previous election monitoring, saying some barangay officials had allegedly played a role in distributing incentives in vote-buying activities.
‘CORRUPT OFFICIALS WILL LAST LONGER’
Arao said postponing the polls could also affect efforts to hold local officials accountable.
“It exacerbates for the simple reason that the corrupt officials, including the one you mentioned in your area, they will, you know, last longer in office and there will be no opportunity for people to challenge such officials by fielding new candidates or supporting candidates who would hopefully do the exact opposite of corruption, which is good governance,” he said.
“But it shouldn’t follow that we will postpone the election so that you can continue serving. The rule of thumb in election cycles is that if you’re good enough to serve, then if you’re eligible for another term, then the people will decide to put you into office.”
Arao acknowledged that saving public funds is a valid consideration but said it should not come at the expense of the right to vote.
“People want to save money but why would you do it at the expense of the people’s right of suffrage?” he said.
“You want to save P11 billion, why not curb corruption? Why not ensure that there is more efficient tax collection, especially among the richest 1 percent of the country?”
What happens after BSKE postponement? Comelec halts preparations, stores election materials
Arao also pointed out that the BSKE is conducted manually, unlike national elections that use an automated election system.
“The kind of money that we’ll be saving as far as the elections are concerned, it’s nothing compared to the automated elections,” he said.
SK OFFICIALS’ AGE RAISED
Arao also questioned how the extended terms would affect SK officials, whose positions are intended to represent the youth.
“For SK officials who were 24 years old when they were elected in 2023, if you do a quick math, they will be already in their late 20s by 2028,” he said.
“How can they effectively govern in a situation where technically they are not part of the Youth Council anymore but they’re still working in a holdover capacity?” he added.
RA 12326 sets the next regular BSKE on the second Monday of November 2028 and provides that succeeding elections will be held every five years. It also allows city or municipal mayors to appoint replacements for vacancies in SK membership.
Arao said such appointment powers should be approached cautiously.
“It’s dangerous for the mayor to exercise such power because we know the exigency of the situation and we’re aware that certain leadership vacuum should be filled up but it should not be the mayor,” he said.
For Arao, the recurring postponement of local elections could ultimately weaken public participation.
“From the voters’ point of view, there will obviously be disenfranchisement, disillusionment, and disappointment,” he said. “The public perception is that the barangay and SK elections are not so important, therefore we can afford to postpone it with one-ton impunity.”
He urged Filipinos to remain vigilant while the legal challenges are pending.
“We should remain vigilant and we should continue voicing our opposition and the continuing deprivation of the people’s right of suffrage,” Arao said.
Comelec cancels BSKE activities; ban on social services lifted
Election lawyer seeks TRO from Supreme Court vs postponement of BSKE polls