Marcos to sign law postponing Barangay, SK polls to 2026
Published Aug 8, 2025 09:53 pm
At A Glance
- Marcos explained that holding the BSKE in December would place too much burden on the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which is already managing two major polls this year: the May midterm elections and the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections.
President Marcos said he would sign the bill postponing the December 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to next year, citing the need to prioritize the country’s first-ever Bangsamoro Parliament elections in October.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate/PPA Pool)
Marcos said this less than a week before the bill seeking to postpone the BSKE polls lapses into law on Aug. 14.
In a press briefing in Bangalore before leaving for Manila on Aug. 8, the President said he will sign the bill.
“No, I’ll sign it. I’ll sign it,” he told Manila-based reporters covering his trip.
Priority is BARMM elections
President Marcos explained that holding the BSKE in December would place too much burden on the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which is already managing two major polls this year: the May midterm elections and the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections.
“Ang COMELEC actually ang nagsasabi: ‘Hindi namin kaya’ (It’s actually the Comelec that’s saying: ‘We can’t handle it’),” he said.
Marcos emphasized the historical significance of the BARMM vote, which will be the first time that a regional parliament in the Bangsamoro will be directly elected by the people.
“You have to remember, the BARMM election that is upcoming in October is the first time we have ever had this kind of election at all,” he said.
“Sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, hindi pa nagkaroon ng BARMM Parliament na hinalal ng tao (In the entire history of the Philippines, there has never been a BARMM Parliament directly elected by the people),” he added.
Peace process at stake
Marcos said that the success of the BARMM election is critical to the Mindanao peace process.
“If that election fails, malaking bagay, malaking failure ‘yan doon sa peace process (that would be a major blow to the peace process),” he said.
“Kaya’t kailangan na kailangan maging matagumpay ang pagganap ng halalan ng BARMM (That’s why it is crucial that the BARMM election is successfully held),” he added.
Local fatigue and legal clarity
President Marcos also noted that the country had just concluded a major local election in May, and many local officials had expressed concern about holding another one so soon.
“Magkakaroon na naman tayo ng barangay election. Parang ganun din. Halos ganoon din (We’ll have another barangay election. It’s practically the same),” he said.
He added that the bill does not conflict with a Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the shortening of barangay officials' terms because this law would effectively extend their current tenure.
“With a view on the Supreme Court decision that we cannot shorten the term of the barangay officials, we are actually lengthening the term. So that’s not in conflict,” he said.
“I think the most sensible and the most common-sense solution is to postpone,” he added.