Marcos yet to receive bill on barangay, SK polls postponement

 MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he had not yet received the proposed bill seeking to postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled on November 2.

The Commission on Elections said unless a law is passed before the end of September, the filing of certificates of candidacy scheduled from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5 will push through.

“Wala pa. Wala pa sa akin,” he told reporters in a brief media interview in Manila when asked if he has decided to sign the measure.

(Not yet. I don’t have it yet.)

READ: Macalintal presses Marcos anew to veto BSKE postponement

The House of Representatives adopted the Senate’s version of a bill extending the terms of barangay and youth councilors to five years, sending the measure—which would effectively postpone the elections—to Malacañang for the President’s action.

The proposal, however, has drawn opposition from several groups and individuals, including election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who cited “severe constitutional injury.”

“In light of the foregoing, may I respectfully request an opportunity to be personally heard by Your Excellency on this matter?” Macalintal said in a letter sent to the Office of the President on Sept. 17.

“Furthermore, in the highest interest of protecting the Philippine Constitution, upholding the rule of law, and preserving the sanctity of the ballot, I most respectfully implore Your Excellency to exercise your constitutional prerogative by vetoing the subject enrolled bill,” he continued.

Macalintal was one of the petitioners in the consolidated petitions earlier granted by the SC that declared the postponement of the 2022 BSKE as “unconstitutional.” /gsg

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