Comelec to focus on BSKE preps after SC decision

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said that it will now focus on its preparations for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), following the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the legality of Republic Act 12232. 

In a statement, the Comelec said that the release of the SC decision was timely as the next BSKE is scheduled on November 2, 2026. 

“This, hopefully, would finally put an end to endless speculations concerning the BSKE. Now that the SC have spoken, the Comelec can now focus on our timelines and our preparations,” Comelec chairman George Garcia said. 

The SC on Tuesday announced that it has dismissed a consolidated petition questioning the constitutionality of the law that rescheduled the BSKE. 

The high court upheld the legality of RA 12232, saying that it is a “term-setting law” and that it established a four-year term and prohibited consecutive terms for barangay and SK officials.

“It is not a law postponing elections; the rescheduling of the elections is merely incidental,” the SC said.

In August, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed RA 12232 that postponed the BSKE supposed to be held on December 1, 2025 and set it to the first Monday of November 2026, and every four years thereafter. —Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News