ILOILO City — Anti-corruption and youth groups in Iloilo are sounding the alarm over the proposed postponement of the November 2 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), alleging that extending the tenure of incumbent village officials until 2028 could make them vulnerable to being used as political machinery in the next presidential election.
The warning comes as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) races against the clock to prepare for the November polls, with the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) scheduled to begin September 28 unless President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs the postponement measure into law.
Raoul Manuel, convenor of Kahublagan Kontra Korapsyon (KKK) and former Kabataan party-list representative, alleged that moving the BSKE beyond the May 2028 national elections could give the administration an opportunity to secure the political support of incumbent barangay officials whose terms would be extended.
“Kon permahan ini ni Marcos Jr., isa lang buot silingon sini, nga ang mga gapungko nga barangay officials gusto niya mangin makinarya ya para sa iya nga kampo kag sa mga kailyado ya sa 2028 elections,” said Manuel.
Manuel claimed the alleged effort could involve government programs, scholarship allocations and funding for local governments in the 2027 national budget, which he said could be used to cultivate political allegiance among local officials.
“Tanan ini senyales nga desperado si Marcos Jr.,” Manuel added.
Samantha Faye Herbolario of Pamatan-on Kontra Korapsyon separately warned that repeatedly postponing barangay elections denies voters the opportunity to choose new grassroots leaders and could create conditions vulnerable to corruption.
“Ang plan nga i-postpone, pala-agyan sang corruption…i-holdover ang current nga nagapungko. Right tani sang mga pamuluyo to elect new officers,” said Herbolario.
“Ang point diri is dapat indi pagkuhaon ang kinamatarong sang pumoluyo to elect new BSKE officials. Kinahanglan mag-push through gid ang elections,” Herbolario added.
COMELEC PREPS CONTINUE
Despite the political uncertainty, Comelec Region 6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan said election preparations continue because Republic Act 12232, which schedules the BSKE for November 2, remains the prevailing law.
“Samtang wala pa sang laye (postponing the elections), ang aton ginasunod is still Republic Act 12232 nga naga-schedule sang Barangay and SK elections sa November 2, 2026,” said Ausan.
Under the existing election calendar, COC filing will run from September 28 to October 5.
The election period and gun ban will be from October 3 to November 9, while the official campaign period is set from October 22 to 31. Election Day remains November 2.
Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the poll body cannot suspend its preparations merely on the expectation that the elections will eventually be postponed.
“The filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) is scheduled for Sept. 28. Hopefully, the law becomes clear before that date; otherwise, the filing of COCs will proceed as planned,” he said.
“Even though it is becoming crystal clear that the BSKE might be postponed, since the House of Representatives appears to have adopted the Senate version, there is still a process involved. It has to be forwarded to the Palace, and it depends on whether the President signs it. There is a waiting period before it becomes law, and afterwards, the matter could be brought to the Supreme Court,” he explained.
“If we were to stop our preparations now, what would happen if the President doesn’t sign it, or exercises a veto, or if the Supreme Court issues a temporary restraining order (TRO)? That is why we cannot stop; otherwise, we might not be ready for the election on November 2 should any of those scenarios occur,” Garcia added.
Comelec is also preparing to train roughly one million teachers who will serve on Electoral Boards, a major undertaking because the BSKE uses manual voting and many newer teachers have no experience conducting manual elections.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted the Senate-approved measure moving the BSKE to November 2028 and providing five-year terms for barangay and SK officials. Comelec said Thursday that, absent a new law before September 28, COC filing will proceed as scheduled.
Marcos has said he will review the measure before deciding whether to sign it. Until a new law takes effect, COMELEC maintains that preparations for the November 2 elections must continue./PN
