• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) slated Oct. 1 to 7 will no longer push through.
The development was confirmed on Monday, Sept. 29, by Regional Director Marco Lionel Castillano of the Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR).
Castillano said the postponement of the synchronized barangay and SK polls to Nov. 2 next year remains valid since the Supreme Court has not issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) as of this time.
However, the preparations for the BSKE continue as they are awaiting instructions from the Comelec central office when to resume the voter registration.
Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal earlier filed a petition before the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act 12232, the law that postpones the December 2025 BSKE and extends the term of incumbent officials.
Macalintal urged the Supreme Court to issue a TRO, a status quo ante order, and/or a writ of preliminary injunction to immediately halt the implementation of RA 12232.
Under RA 12232, subsequent regular BSKE will be held every four years thereafter.
It also states that the term of office of all elected barangay and SK officials shall be four years, but no elective barangay official shall serve for more than three consecutive terms in the same position.
The law stated that no elective SK official shall serve for more than one term in the same position. | GB
