Comelec: BSKE postponement up to Congress

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is leaving it up to Congress to decide whether to postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) set on Dec. 1, 2025.

“The fixing of the date of election is an absolute discretion of Congress, as long as it complies with the guidelines and criteria laid down by the Supreme Court (SC) in case of postponement and resetting,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.

He said the Comelec would continue with its preparations for the BSKE unless President Marcos signs a law postponing the political exercise.

“Our preparations cannot be affected by a mere possibility or speculation,” Garcia said.

Camarines Sur second district Rep. LRay Villafuerte, Camarines Sur fifth district Rep. Miguel Luis Villafuerte and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Bryan Yamsuan filed House Bill No. 10344 seeking to reschedule the holding of the BSKE to October 2026.

The authors of the proposed measure said holding the elections next year would shorten the term of office of barangay and SK officials to only two years.

They cited the Local Government Code and Republic Act 9164 or the Act Providing for Synchronized BSKE Elections, which provides a three-year term of office for barangay and SK officials.

The bill was filed despite an SC ruling which declared as unconstitutional the law that postponed the BSKE from Dec. 5, 2022 to October 2023.

The succeeding BSKE will be held on the first Monday of December 2025 and every three years thereafter, according to the SC ruling.