Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 24) — The Supreme Court has rejected with finality the government’s motion for reconsideration on its ruling that the law postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) was unconstitutional.
In a news release on Tuesday, the high court said the arguments raised by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in the Oct. 11 motion for reconsideration were \”essentially mere reiterations\” already decided upon last June 27.
The court earlier found as unconstitutional Republic Act No. 11935, or the act that postponed the village and youth council polls from its initial December 2022 schedule to the last Monday of October this year.
It, however, said the BSKE set for October shall proceed out of legal practicality and necessity.
The SC said anew that RA 11935 is not supported by a legitimate government interest or objective as Congress primarily sought the postponement to \” unconstitutionally\” realign the budget allocation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the 2022 BSKE to other government programs.
It also said it is the tenure of winning candidates in the October BSKE that is effectively shortened, and not the term of office.
The June 27 ruling, in turn, gives a green light to hold the BSKE on Oct. 30, while the next would be on the first Monday of December 2025, and every three years after. The next midterm will be held in 2025.
In a statement, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the poll body is prepared to conduct the elections \”anytime, anywhere.\”
“The SC have spoken,” he said. “It has the last say on the issue of constitutionality of laws and actions of officialdom.”
