• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor Ejercito said senators remain divided over the proposed postponement of the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), with an informal survey showing a nearly even split between those who want the polls to proceed and those favoring a delay.
Ejercito said the Senate is expected to hold a caucus and further discussions on Monday, Aug. 24 to weigh the options and hear the rationale behind the proposed postponement.
“There are some who want the elections to continue while others want them postponed for several reasons,” Ejercito said in an interview during his visit in Silay City, Negros Occidental on Sunday, Aug. 23.
As of the latest informal survey among senators, he said the vote is “neck and neck” although those favoring postponement have a slight advantage.
The proposed postponement has gained support in the House of Representatives. Its fate, however, will ultimately depend on whether both chambers of Congress can agree on the measure.
For his part, Ejercito said he has yet to make a final decision and wants to hear all sides before taking a stand.
“I have to weigh the options. That is why we will have a hearing – to weigh the options first,” he said, adding that senators will listen to the reasons behind the proposed postponement and determine whether these are valid.
However, Ejercito said his personal preference at this point is for the elections to proceed as scheduled, noting that the barangay and SK polls have already been postponed several times.
The BSKE is currently scheduled for Nov. 2, 2026, but proposals have been filed seeking to move the elections to 2028.
In the House, Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez said the fate of the proposed postponement will depend on the position of the majority in both the House and the Senate.
Benitez, who filed a bill seeking to move the BSKE to 2028, admitted that time is running short but said Congress could still act if the measure is made a priority. | GPB
