Supreme Court Upholds Law Extending Barangay, SK Officials’ Five Years Term

MANILA — The Supreme Court of the Philippines has ruled Republic Act No. 12326 constitutional, dismissing a petition challenging the law that lengthens the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to five years and resets the next barangay and SK elections for November 2028, according to an official briefer from the court’s Office of the Spokesperson.

Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda penned the decision, which rejected arguments raised by petitioner Romulo Macalintal. Macalintal had contended the measure violated substantive due process, claiming voters were deprived of their right to regularly elect barangay leaders, and that the five‑year term would conflict with preparations for the 2028 national and local elections.

The high court explained that RA 12326 serves legitimate state goals: strengthening local governance continuity, sustaining multi‑year community development plans, optimizing limited government resources, and cutting costs associated with frequent barangay polls. Justices noted Congress is constitutionally empowered to set, adjust, extend or reset the tenure of barangay officials, provided the new term schedule begins properly.

The ruling also clarified the law does not permanently remove voters’ right to choose their barangay leaders. It only shifts the election calendar, ensuring communities will still hold regular, predictable barangay polls every five years starting with the 2028 voting cycle. The SC emphasized that determining the appropriate length of barangay officials’ terms is primarily a policy matter for Congress, not the judiciary.

Macalintal’s petition also argued the extension ran counter to earlier 2023 Supreme Court guidelines, but the court clarified those prior rules were not binding on the new legislation.

The landmark decision finalizes the election timeline for village youth leaders nationwide, moving the originally scheduled polls to late 2028.