Sotto opposes postponement of BSKE, cites violation of right to vote

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Wednesday bared reluctance over the proposed postponement of the November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), citing its possible violation of the right to suffrage. 

Sotto said he was “not convinced” by the need for the postponement during the period of interpellations for Senate Bill No. 2387 – sponsored by Sen. Francis “Chiz Escudero – which seeks to fix the term of BSK officials to five years, thereby postponing the upcoming polls to November 2028.

“Fixing the terms of our barangay officials to five years, must be balanced with the interest of the voting public to elect a new mandate…  I hope that the November 2026 elections will push through and just apply the new fixed term prospectively if possible,” Sotto manifested.

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READ: Senate panels want BSKE held in Nov. 2028 instead of Nov. 2026

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During his interpellation, the veteran senator questioned whether the postponement would be a form of “denying voters to choose their local leaders,” especially since this would be the second time the incumbent BSK officials’ term would be extended should the measure be passed.

To recall, the last BSKE was held in 2023, and was supposed to happen again in 2025, but was postponed to November 2026 after the officials’ term was extended to four years. 

“How many postponements na ba po ang ating incumbent barangay officials? The incumbent officials were elected in 2023. The 2025 election was postponed to November 2026. Incumbent [officials are] currently in holdover one year – 2025 to 2026. Itong proposed 2028 elections, the incumbents will holdover for 3 years, from 2025 to 2028,” Sotto pointed out.

(How many postponements have our incumbent barangay officials had? The incumbent officials were elected in 2023. The 2025 election was postponed to November 2026. Incumbent [officials are] currently in holdover one year – 2025 to 2026. This proposed 2028 elections, the incumbents will holdover for 3 years, from 2025 to 2028,

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He then highlighted the many cases of erring barangay officials since 2023. 

“Ang problema, there are numerous cases filed against barangay officials. Just last week, the Ombudsman dismissed 12 barangay officials in Iloilo for alleged AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations) aid scheming. January 2026, the Ombudsman suspended Brgy. Umapad kagawad for delayed honoraria payouts under the clean-and-green program,” Sotto listed.

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(The problem is, there are numerous cases filed against barangay officials. Just last week, the Ombudsman dismissed 12 barangay officials in Iloilo for alleged AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations) aid scheming. January 2026, the Ombudsman suspended Brgy. Umapad kagawad for delayed honoraria payouts under the clean-and-green program,.)

Sotto continued: “January 2026, the DILG (Department of the Local and Interior Government) filed complaints against erring “epal” barangay officials. June 2024, criminal case filed against officials of Brgy. Punta Engaño, Lapu Lapu City over alleged anti-graft and ethical violations. In 2024, the DILG pushed administrative actions against several barangay captains in Manila for failure to comply with the Anti-Drug Abuse Council reporting.”

READ: Comelec to Congress: Decide on fate of 2026 barangay, SK polls by September

With this, Sotto reiterated the need for the upcoming elections to proceed as scheduled, saying “People want change. This shows that voters’ rights and accountability comes first. Long-term cost of delay outweighs the short-term savings.”

Sotto also wondered whether the postponement of the elections would be a form of “gerrymandering” or manipulation of elections to favor certain political groups or parties.

In response to Sotto’s concerns, Escudero first reminded that BSK polls have been postponed seven times since 2005. 

Should the bill be passed, however, fixing the term to five years as well as postponing the elections, would simply grant the incumbent officials the new term length. He also shared that upon extension to 2028, the incumbent’s five-year term would count as one of the two terms the BSK officials could hold.

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In addition, Escudero mentioned that there are remedies for erring officials, and that local stakeholders may likewise exercise their right to choose their leaders by initiating a recall where voters could remove officials should the electorate be dissatisfied with their performance. /mr