Politics · Philippines Bureau
Top election lawyer challenges constitutionality of barangay poll deferral
A prominent election attorney has filed a new petition with the Supreme Court seeking to declare unconstitutional the law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. The legal challenge also aims to prevent the extension of terms for local officials affected by the deferral.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Election law expert Romulo Macalintal has launched a fresh constitutional challenge before the Supreme Court against Republic Act No. 12326, which defers the holding of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled for this year.
The petition seeks to have the law declared unconstitutional while simultaneously blocking implementation of the deferral. According to the challenge, the statute not only postpones the electoral exercise but also extends the terms of office for barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan members beyond their originally mandated periods.
Macalintal's legal action represents the latest attempt to contest the controversial measure, which has drawn criticism from election reform advocates and democratic governance groups. The petition raises fundamental constitutional questions regarding the government's authority to defer local elections and unilaterally extend the tenure of elected officials without fresh electoral mandates.
The Supreme Court's response to the petition remains pending. Election watchers are closely monitoring the case as it addresses broader concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the constitutional safeguards surrounding barangay and youth sector representation in local governance structures.