Veteran election lawyer Atty. Romulo Macalintal said he will personally file a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the newly signed law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to December 1, 2025.
In an interview on Magandang Umaga Pilipinas on Friday, Macalintal said he is preparing to submit the petition, arguing that the measure violates both the law and the Constitution.
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“Inihahanda ko na ang petisyon at baka mai-file ngayong araw dahil sa aking pananaw malaki ang paglabag sa batas at karapatan [postponement sa BSKE],” he said.
Macalintal pointed out that the law signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. does not explicitly mention the word “postponement.” Instead, it only states a fixed term for barangay and SK officials.
“Pag binasa mo ang nilagdaang batas… wala kang makikita na nag-postpone ng election kundi ang binabanggit ay fix ng term,” he explained.
According to him, lawmakers may have avoided using the term to sidestep the Supreme Court’s previous rulings that any election postponement must have a valid reason and a clear explanation.
“Bakit nila ginawa? Iniiwasan nila ang issue ng postponement… Dito hindi nila nilagay para setting the term of office lamang,” Macalintal added.
President Marcos signed the law on August 13, 2025, moving the BSKE to a later date and extending the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from the current three years to four years. He also cited the need to give way to the Bangsamoro Parliament Elections set for October 13, 2025.
