Supreme Court Supports Postponement of Barangay & SK Elections
The Supreme Court upholds the postponement of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to November 2026.
In its statement, the Supreme Court explained that under the law, the next BSKE will take place on the first Monday of November 2026 and every four years thereafter. This means the elections that were supposed to happen in December 2025 will now be moved to a later date.
“Under the law, the next BSKE will be held on the first Monday of November, 2026, and every four years thereafter. Accordingly, the elections set for Dec. 1, 2025, have been rescheduled to November 2026,” PIO said.
According to the Supreme Court, the Constitution grants Congress the exclusive authority to determine the term length of barangay officials, as stated in Article X, Section 8. The Court emphasized that this legislative power also includes the ability to decide when the new term of office should begin, as long as the extension remains reasonable and not excessively long.
The decision came after some groups questioned the legality of Republic Act No. 12232, which officially moved the BSKE to 2026. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed the law last August, formalizing the new election schedule.
The Court clarified that the move was within Congress’s power and did not violate any constitutional provisions. It also noted that rescheduling the elections allows the government to focus its resources on ongoing programs and ensure more efficient preparation for the next polls.
“This legislative power is not merely permissive; it makes Congress the sole body empowered to define the term of office of barangay officials,” the agency added.
With this ruling, barangay and SK officials currently in office will continue serving until the new elections are held.
The decision received various reactions from the public, with some expressing understanding of the need for proper planning, while others hoped for earlier elections.