At least two Facebook users are claiming that the Supreme Court has dismissed the law that postponed the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections originally scheduled on Nov. 2. This is not true.
On Oct. 7, a netizen posted a reel featuring a graphic regarding a purported SC decision, alleging that:
“SA KANILANG PINAKAHULING PASYA, IBINASURA NG KORTE SUPREMA ANG BALAK NA IPAGPALIBAN ANG BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS (BSKE).
MANANATILI ANG KAPANGYARIHAN NG BAYAN NA PUMILI NG KANILANG LOKAL NA PINUNO.
(In its latest ruling, the SC junked the plan to postpone the BSKE. The people’s right to choose their local leaders will be upheld.)”
Another FB user published a screenshot of the video, which displayed the High Court’s logo and a screenshot of its verified FB page—a common tactic to lend an air of authority and credibility to a false claim.
In an Oct. 10 statement, the COMELEC said that the SC has not yet issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to halt the implementation of Republic Act No. 12326.
Signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sept. 24, the said law extended the term of barangay and SK officials from four years to five years and moved the next polls to Nov. 13, 2028.
The COMELEC has since cancelled all its activities related to the November 2026 BSKE upon the enactment of the postponement law, including the filing of certificates of candidacy and the ongoing printing of additional ballots.
As of writing, two petitions have been filed before the SC challenging RA 12326.
Veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal personally filed the first instant petition on Sept. 28, arguing that the new law violates the electorate’s right to vote by postponing the 2026 BSKE under the guise of fixing the official’s term of office.
On Oct. 5, various youth groups filed another petition asking the SC to strike down and declare RA 12326 as “unconstitutional,” and to issue a TRO and/or Writ of Preliminary Mandatory Injunction allowing the Nov. 2 BSKE to proceed.
The Office of the Solicitor General, representing the Office of the President, the Senate, the House of Representatives and COMELEC, has urged the High Court to reject Macalintal’s petition, noting that “the resulting postponement of elections is but a logistical consequence of the term extension.”
Macalintal, however, renewed in an urgent motion and reply he filed electronically on Oct. 6 his plea for the SC to stop the BSKE postponement and “compel the poll body to resume preparations for the village elections.”
The untrue claim emerged a day after Macalintal urgently pressed the SC to issue a TRO or Status Quo Ante Order against RA 12326.
Published by FB users, the erroneous posts collectively received 3,639 reactions; 369 comments and 655 shares, with the reel being viewed over 229,000 times.
