25/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE
YOUTH GROUPS CONDEMN BSK TERM-SETTING LAW, TO SEEK SUPREME COURT RELIEF
MANILA, Philippines โ Youth groups strongly condemned Republic Act No. 12326, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed on September 24, 2026. The law sets five-year terms for barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan members and postpones the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to 2028.
Two days before the signing, representatives of the groups submitted a petition to Malacaรฑang urging the President to veto the measure. The petition was signed by Kaya Natin! Youth, KASAPI Coalition, Akbayan Youth, Kilos Ko Youth, Liberal Youth, Build Youth, Model SK Network, GoodGovPH, the National Anti-Poverty CommissionโYouth and Students Sectoral Council (NAPC-YSSC), and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP).
Following the lawโs signing, the groups said they are preparing to file a petition with the Supreme Court challenging its constitutionality. They will seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) and other appropriate relief to prevent the lawโs implementation. They maintain that the BSKE should proceed on its originally scheduled date of November 2, 2026.
Angel Amora of Kaya Natin! Youth said postponing the election permanently deprives young people of the chance to vote or run for SK office because of age limits.
โAng postponement ng eleksyon ay pagkakait ng karapatan naming bumoto at tumakbo sa halalan.โ Amora said.
Aira Joy Villamil, an incumbent SK official and member of the Model SK Network, criticized President Marcos for signing RA No. 12326 despite calls to veto it. She said regular elections are especially urgent amid vacant SK positions and inactive councils.
โSa dami ng bakanteng posisyon at mga inactive na SK, mas kailangan natin ng regular na halalan, hindi panibagong pagpapaliban. Kung ang pangarap natin ay โBawat Barangay Makikinabang,โ hindi baโt dapat ding pakinggan ng Pangulo ang boses ng mamamayan?โ Villamil said.
The groups argued that the law unconstitutionally extends the terms of current officials instead of allowing them to remain temporarily in a holdover capacity until their successors are elected and qualified.
โMalinaw sa mismong batas na pinapalawig nito ng dalawang taon ang termino ng mga kasalukuyang opisyal, kahit wala silang bagong mandato mula sa taumbayan para sa karagdagang dalawang taon,โ said LA Tolentino of the KASAPI Coalition.
The groups expect to file the petition with the Supreme Court as soon as possible.
Media Contact: LA Tolentino โ 0916 246 1086 | [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
YOUTH GROUPS CONDEMN BSK TERM-SETTING LAW, TO SEEK SUPREME COURT RELIEF
MANILA, Philippines โ Youth groups strongly condemned Republic Act No. 12326, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed on September 24, 2026. The law sets five-year terms for barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan members and postpones the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to 2028.
Two days before the signing, representatives of the groups submitted a petition to Malacaรฑang urging the President to veto the measure. The petition was signed by Kaya Natin! Youth, KASAPI Coalition, Akbayan Youth, Kilos Ko Youth, Liberal Youth, Build Youth, Model SK Network, GoodGovPH, the National Anti-Poverty CommissionโYouth and Students Sectoral Council (NAPC-YSSC), and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP).
Following the lawโs signing, the groups said they are preparing to file a petition with the Supreme Court challenging its constitutionality. They will seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) and other appropriate relief to prevent the lawโs implementation. They maintain that the BSKE should proceed on its originally scheduled date of November 2, 2026.
Angel Amora of Kaya Natin! Youth said postponing the election permanently deprives young people of the chance to vote or run for SK office because of age limits.
โAng postponement ng eleksyon ay pagkakait ng karapatan naming bumoto at tumakbo sa halalan.โ Amora said.
Aira Joy Villamil, an incumbent SK official and member of the Model SK Network, criticized President Marcos for signing RA No. 12326 despite calls to veto it. She said regular elections are especially urgent amid vacant SK positions and inactive councils.
โSa dami ng bakanteng posisyon at mga inactive na SK, mas kailangan natin ng regular na halalan, hindi panibagong pagpapaliban. Kung ang pangarap natin ay โBawat Barangay Makikinabang,โ hindi baโt dapat ding pakinggan ng Pangulo ang boses ng mamamayan?โ Villamil said.
The groups argued that the law unconstitutionally extends the terms of current officials instead of allowing them to remain temporarily in a holdover capacity until their successors are elected and qualified.
โMalinaw sa mismong batas na pinapalawig nito ng dalawang taon ang termino ng mga kasalukuyang opisyal, kahit wala silang bagong mandato mula sa taumbayan para sa karagdagang dalawang taon,โ said LA Tolentino of the KASAPI Coalition.
The groups expect to file the petition with the Supreme Court as soon as possible.
Media Contact: [email protected]