Comelec cancels BSKE activities; ban on social services lifted

September 24, 2026 admin

Residents cast their vote during the 2025 midterm elections at a basketball court in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City on May 12, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has cancelled activities related to the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed a bill postponing the Nov. 2 polls.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the cancelled activities included the supposed filing of certificates of candidacy supposedly from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5.

The prohibition on social services and public works was also lifted.

Marcos on Thursday signed Republic Act 12326, which fixed the term of village and SK officials to five years and rescheduled the polls to November 13, 2026.

Garcia acknowledged that the measure could be challenged before the Supreme Court. But he noted that the poll body is mandated to follow the law.

“Ang Comelec po kasi ay tagapagpatupad ng batas. Kung ano ‘yung batas sa kasalukuyan sa araw na ito, yun po yung papatupad namin at ang batas po ngayon ay wala pong halalan sa November 2,” he said in a chance interview.

“Kung ano’t ano man po ang mangyayari sa mga susunod na araw, then diyan lang po ako kikilos at gagawa ng karampatang aksyon ang inyong Commission on Elections,” he added.

Voter registration will resume in the second week of November until July 30, 2027.