Comelec prepared to comply with SC ruling on BSKE

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is operationally and financially prepared to abide by any Supreme Court order pertaining to the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), following a legal challenge mounted at the SC over the weekend.

During the poll body’s budget hearing before the Senate on Monday, Comelec Chairman George Garcia projected the number of registered voters to reach 74 million by the 2028 national and local elections, an increase of about three million from the current count.

He noted that another one million voters could be added by November 2028 for the BSKE.

The Comelec is preparing for the 2028 polls after President Marcos signed Republic Act 12326, which postponed the BSKE from Nov. 2, 2026 to November 2028 and extended the terms of barangay and SK officials from four to five years.

Following the signing of the law, the Comelec halted preparations for the 2026 BSKE, including the filing of certificates of candidacy originally scheduled from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5.

On Sunday, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal challenged the BSKE postponement with a petition for certiorari and prohibition before the SC.

“Whatever the Supreme Court may issue, the Comelec is prepared. However, we have already stopped all activities related to the 2026 barangay and SK elections in recognition of the new law,” Garcia said.

Macalintal has asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order or status quo ante order against the implementation of RA 12326, and to declare the law invalid or unconstitutional insofar as it postpones the BSKE.

Garcia said the Comelec would need additional time to resume preparations if the SC orders the 2026 BSKE to proceed.

The poll body has spent about P8 billion on preparations for the postponed BSKE. Garcia said procured election materials and equipment could still be used for the rescheduled elections if properly stored.

The Comelec is also drafting the terms of reference for the voting machines to be used in the 2028 national and local elections as it prepares to procure new units. — Rainier Allan Ronda