Manila: Malaca±ang announced that the Office of Solicitor General (OSG) will submit a comment on the petition challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act (RA) 12232, which reschedules the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from December 1, 2025, to the first Monday of November 2026.
According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the Palace will defer to the OSG, the legal counsel of the Philippine government, to respond to the Supreme Court's (SC) directive for the executive branch to comment on the petition. "We have already referred it to OSG as counsel of the Republic," Castro communicated in a text message to reporters.
The Supreme Court has consolidated the three petitions that challenge the postponement of the BSKE. SC spokesperson Camille Ting mentioned that no temporary restraining order has been issued at this time.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed RA 12232 on August 13, moving the BSKE from December 2025 to November 2026 and setting the term of office for village and youth officials at four years. Marcos explained that the postponement of the village elections will enable the government to concentrate on the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, scheduled for October 13.
