Reasons for barangay, SK polls’ postponement still valid – Sen. Marcos

Senator Imee Marcos (File picture from Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday still believes that the reasons for the postponement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections last year are still sound.

Her statement follows a Supreme Court (SC) ruling declaring unconstitutional the law that postponed the holding of barangay and sangguniang kabataan (SK) elections in 2022.

“I respect the decision of the SC and I adhere to [the] separation of powers underpinning our system of government,” she said.

“However, I maintain that the reasons for postponement, which were espoused during the debates and hearings, remain valid,” she noted.

Her remarks pertained to Republic Act number 11935, which postponed the two electoral exercises from its initial December 5, 2022 schedule.

The elections were reset to the last Monday of October 2023 (October 30).

The senator believes the decision is justifiable given local officials served short terms.

The postponement resulted in extending the terms of the incumbent barangay and SK officials to more than ten months (from December 5, 2022, to the last week of October 2023).

“The present barangay and SK officials need sufficient time to implement their programs which have been sidetracked by the pandemic,” she said.

“Furthermore, it is high time that the term of barangay and SK officials be extended,” she proposed.

“We must keep in mind that barangay and SK officials are often tasked to implement not only their own programs and projects, but also those of the local and national government,” she noted.

Marcos heads the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation.

In 2022, she filed Senate Bill number 1195 seeking to extend the terms of barangay officials from three to six years.

“The government will save tens of billions by extending the terms of barangay and SK officials,” the senator had said.

While SC had ruled that the postponement of barangay and SK elections last year was unconstitutional, it also recognized the “legal practicality and necessity” of proceeding with barangay and SK elections in October this year.

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