Comelec asked to comment on bill extending terms of barangay, SK execs

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has been asked by Malacañang to comment on the proposed bill to extend the terms of the elected officials of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan.

This was disclosed by Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia on Wednesday as he shared that the letter was received by the poll body on the same day.

“We just received the letter and we will immediately send Comelec’s response to the said letter from the Office of the President,” Garcia told reporters in an interview.

When asked of the Comelec’s response to the letter, Garcia cited the executive and legislative departments’ “absolute prerogative” on the measure.

READ: House, Senate agree on 4-year term for barangay, SK officials

“We are fully aware that this is an absolute prerogative of the political departments of the government and that the Comelec can’t contribute anything to the bill except on the data we gave and our stand that is currently being reviewed by the upper and lower chamber,” Garcia noted.

The Senate and the House of Representatives previously ratified a bill seeking to extend the election officials’ terms from the current three years to four years.

Should the bill be enacted into law, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will be moved from December 1, 2025 to November 2026.

Garcia also shared that the poll body is continuously preparing for the BSKE if these will push through on December 1. Garcia previously said that the procurement process is ongoing, including election materials such as pens, papers, and 68,000 ballot boxes.

“We also said that the Comelec is hard pressed on the time because of our preparations on the Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections that will push through,” Garcia added.

The Comelec will also resume voters’ registration in line with the BSKE from August 1 to August 10 nationwide. However, transfer of registration will not be applicable during this period.

READ: Comelec: Only 73 parliament seats to be contested in BARMM polls

He also reiterated that the poll body will proceed with the Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections where 73 seats will be contested, given that there is still no law on the redistribution of the seven seats that were originally dedicated to the province of Sulu.

The elections were set to fill 80 seats, however, the exclusion of Sulu from the region brought it down to 73. /cb