Senate OKs on 2nd reading bill setting barangay, SK term to 5 years

Residents of Quezon City troop to the SM North EDSA (North Towers) on January 31, 2023 on the last day of Commission on Elections voters registration for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. (File photo from NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / INQUIRER.net) MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Wednesday approved on second reading a bill fixing the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years. The measure was passed despite the opposition of five senators. Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero sponsored Senate Bill No. 2397, which fixes the term of BSK officials to five years. Article continues after this advertisement In effect, this reschedules the upcoming BSKE from November 2026 to November 2028. Voting against the measure are Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Sens. Joel Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan. Sotto previously expressed reluctance to support the bill, stating that postponing the upcoming BSKE would “deny voters to choose their local leaders,” after the same polls have already been moved from 2025 to 2026. The last of these elections were held in 2023. During the period of amendments in the Senate, Sotto reiterated his sentiment, urging his colleagues to review the measure before voting on its approval. Article continues after this advertisement “Considering that this is the eighth time that we have postponed barangay elections, it might give the impression to the public of how little regard we are giving to the unit of government closest to the people,” the senator said. He told his fellow senator: “My dear esteemed colleagues, the Comelec (Commission on Elections) is ready and equipped to conduct the November 2026 BSK elections. Thus, I am hopeful that it will proceed.” Article continues after this advertisement “I urge my colleagues to review and study closely this unconstitutional extension before casting their approval,” he pleaded. READ: Sotto opposes postponement of BSKE, cites violation of right to vote After his speech against the measure, Sotto proposed an amendment, disqualifying from a term extension or holdover the barangay officials who are facing charges. “There are 149 cities, 1,493 municipalities, 42,011 barangays and there is no single city or municipality without a barangay official being charged with something…,” he claimed. “There is no single city or municipality where all the barangays are clean. There are no cases against any councilor or any barangay official,” he further told his colleagues. “This is a safety measure. If you have a case, you cannot be on holdover. Will we give you an extension? Are you still on holdover until 2028? You have a case! You have a graft case. You have an administrative case,” Sotto remarked. Escudero, though acknowledging the concern, responded to Sotto’s proposal, saying there are risks to Sotto’s proposed provision. “With this measure, what will happen is that the mayor will only do what he has to do,” Escudero pointed out. “He will be sued or his enemies in the barangay will sue him. The effect is that he will not be able to perform his duty, according to the amendment,” the lawmaker further said. “So it seems that just by filing a case, effectively, we are suspending and removing the barangay official,” Escudero told Sotto. Escudero said this is the same reason why a final conviction is required for disqualifications. READ: House OKs bill setting barangay, SK execs’ term to five years Nevertheless, he included an amendment to the bill, which states that “incumbent officials with [administrative, civil or criminal] cases may be prevented from sitting in a holdover capacity, in accordance with law, as may be ordered by the courts or competent authority.” Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. The new provision also prevents the measure from exempting or excusing incumbent officials from investigations on administrative, civil or criminal cases or liabilities. /apl