Lawyer to oppose longer terms for barangay execs

MANILA, Philippines — Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal is ready to oppose a Senate bill seeking to extend the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to five years and reset the elections to November 2028.

In a radio interview, Macalintal said he is even turning to the Supreme Court for help to stop the passage of Senate Bill 2387, which seeks to amend Republic Act 12232 or “An Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and for Other Purposes.”

“In fact, I am already preparing in my law office the draft of the petition (with the SC) so that the only last thing needed would be the Republic Act number – once the bill is passed and signed by President Marcos Jr.,” Macalintal said.

He is still hoping the President would study the bill carefully before making a decision.

“If his advisers are listening, this (bill) is a violation of the Constitution. That is why the President should subject to a thorough study if the bill should be enacted into law or if it should be implemented or not,” he said.

Sen. Francis Escudero filed the bill last Thursday. Escudero said his proposed measure seeks to enhance the stability and consistency of public service at the barangay level.

He recalled that in 2023, there was also a move to extend the term of barangay officials from three years to four years.

“Now they are changing it to fixing the term of office that is why they want it postponed – to fix the term. First, they said they will set the term, now they will fix the term. What is the difference? That is why with this proposed bill, they are only fooling the people and making it look like we don’t know anything about the law,” Macalintal said.

“They would say they will fix the term to five years from four years, so that the election scheduled on November 2026 will not push through and will just be held in 2028. Even if Congress has the power to fix the term of office, they don’t have the right to postpone election that has already been set,” he explained.