MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) cannot wait for the Supreme Court to act before implementing the new law postponing the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said Wednesday.
Garcia explained that the law is already effective and must be implemented unless the Supreme Court issues a restraining order or another order affecting its implementation.
“Some are telling us that Comelec should have waited first for the Supreme Court to act. We cannot do that because the law is already effective,” Garcia said in Filipino.
“As long as there is no restraining order or any order from the Supreme Court, the law currently in effect is what Comelec must implement,” he added.
Garcia also pointed to the risk of continuing to spend public funds on preparations for an election that would no longer take place.
“If we spend money preparing for an election when there is no longer going to be an election, that would already be malversation of public funds. That is why we need to stop,” he said.
The poll chief maintained that Comelec would remain flexible in implementing the law.
“Comelec is flexible. Whatever the law says, that is what we will follow. What is important is that we prepared,” he said.
Election modernization must not disenfranchise voters
Meanwhile, Garcia pointed out that election modernization should not result in voters being left behind.
“Modernization of elections should not be a license to disenfranchise our voters,” Garcia said Wednesday.
He stressed that voter education should accompany the automation and modernization of the election system.
“When you automate, when you modernize, you likewise educate your people so that everyone can keep up. Because in an election where some are left behind, that is not the true voice of the people,” Garcia said.
Garcia also urged Filipinos to register as voters regardless of whether the BSKE proceeds.
“Whether the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections proceed or not, what is important is that we all register. We cannot elect anyone if we are not voters. Registration is always the first step before voting,” he added.
