MANILA, Philippines — An election watchdog has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto a bill postponing the November 2026 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to 2028, warning that delaying polls undermines local leadership accountability.
In a statement Tuesday, Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) said another postponement would deprive voters of a regular opportunity to choose their barangay and SK leaders and hold them accountable at the grassroots level.
“Another law postponing the elections is unconstitutional and is in direct contrast with the principle of accountability,” the group said.
The appeal comes after Congress approved a measure seeking to amend Republic Act 12232, the law that currently provides for the next regular Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on the first Monday of November 2026 and every four years thereafter.
The measure moves the elections to November 2028, effectively extending the terms of incumbent barangay and SK officials.
The postponement has been pending for weeks, with both chambers of Congress advancing measures to move the Nov. 2, 2026 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to 2028.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has continued preparations for the polls, since the existing law remains in force until a new measure is enacted.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia called for clarity ahead of the Sept. 28 to Oct. 5 filing of certificates of candidacy, saying the poll body would comply with whatever law Congress ultimately passes.
Despite the uncertainty, Comelec has kept its preparations moving, although it earlier instructed suppliers to defer the delivery of some election materials pending a final decision on the postponement.
Malacañang said on Sept. 15 that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would review the measure before deciding whether to sign it.
LENTE, however, urged the President to reject the measure.
The election watchdog invoked the 1987 Constitution’s protection of suffrage and the principle of regular elections, arguing that elections provide voters with a mechanism to assess and replace local officials.
LENTE also tied its appeal to the administration’s broader emphasis on accountability amid investigations into alleged anomalies in government flood-control projects.
