MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 12232, which sets the term of office of barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members to four years, in an 8-5-2 decision on Tuesday.

Five Justices dissented, while two abstained from the case.

Under RA 12232, the next SK elections are scheduled for the first Monday of November 2026 and every four years thereafter. As a result, elections originally set for December 1, 2025, have been postponed, with incumbent officials remaining in office until their successors are elected.

Petitions filed by Romulo B. Macalintal and others argued that the law violated guidelines established in the 2023 case of Macalintal v. COMELEC, infringed on the public’s right to vote, and unduly favored SK officials.

In upholding the law, SC Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, in the ponencia, explained that Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to set the term duration of barangay officials. “These officials are not bound by the general three-year term limit that applies to other elective local officials,” the SC said. The Court added that Congress also has the power to determine when the new term begins, provided the period is reasonable.

The SC clarified that RA 12232 is a term-setting law, not a law postponing elections, making the Macalintal guidelines inapplicable. The Court also ruled that extending terms does not violate voters’ rights, as elections remain regular and predictable, allowing citizens to hold officials accountable.

The Court further emphasized that the law is not discriminatory. Barangays, as the smallest political units, perform different functions and operate with simpler administrative structures compared to other local government units, making distinct treatment constitutionally permissible.

Justices Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Antonio T. Kho, Jr., and Maria Filomena D. Singh dissented. Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando and Amy C. Lazaro-Javier took no part in the decision.

The full text of the SC decision will be uploaded to the Court’s website once available.