MANILA, Philippines — An election lawyer on Monday wrote to Senate President Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, urging him to heed calls to block the postponement of the November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Romulo Macalintal, in a three-page formal letter to Gatchalian, pointed out that Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s measure is a “transparent semantic maneuver” and “a clear violation of the people’s right of suffrage.”
Escudero earlier filed a Senate bill seeking to extend the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from four to five years. If enacted, the measure would move the BSKE to November 2028.
READ: Escudero files bill extending barangay, SK officials’ terms to 5 yrs
The election lawyer explained that the contract between barangay officials elected in October 2023 and the electorate should have expired by December 2025.
“This contract was breached when Republic Act No. 12232 postponed the December 2025 BSKE to November 2026,” Macalintal said.
“And here again, the proposed bill would like to breach this constitutional contract once more by postponing the November 2026 elections to November 2028,” he added.
READ: Solons clash over bill setting 5-year barangay, SK terms
Macalintal said that the proposed BSKE postponement would defy the established president of the Supreme Court, saying that “the power of Congress to postpone elections is not plenary; it is an extraordinary exception subject to strict scrutiny and can only be justified by genuine, compelling, and substantial state interests.”
The election lawyer asked Gatchalian to allow him and other concerned citizens and stakeholders to appear before the Senate Plenary or its relevant committees to voice their sentiments in opposing the proposed BSKE postponement.
Escudero, in his explanatory note when filing the measure in August, pointed out that the proposal seeks to “enhance the stability and consistency of public service at the barangay level.”
Gatchalian earlier said the Senate would discuss the proposed measures and make its decision this week. /jpv
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