By CESAR JOLITO III

The Commission on Elections in Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) said the preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) will continue despite President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. signing Republic Act 12232, which postponed the December 1 polls to November 2026.

Comelec-NIR Director Lionel Marco Castillano said they anticipate possible legal challenges questioning the constitutionality of the BSKE postponement before the Supreme Court (SC).

“If the SC issues a temporary restraining order or declares the law unconstitutional, we must be ready to hold the elections in December,” Castillano explained, citing earlier statements from election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who has publicly expressed plans to question the postponement.

Fifteen days after its publication, Republic Act 12232 will officially take effect, following its signing on Wednesday, August 13.

Under the law, any petition opposing the postponement may be filed after the 15-day effectivity period lapses.

If such a petition is lodged, Comelec will have to await SC’s ruling before making further decisions, noting that the Election Registration Board hearing is set for August 26 to approve or reject applications from the recent voter registration held from August 1 to 10.

Castillano said the procurement of materials for BSKE is also ongoing, though no contract awarding will proceed until the situation becomes clearer.

The BSKE deferment also extends the term of office of barangay and SK officials to four years from three years./CJ, WDJ