Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas Upholds Constitutionality of RA 12232

The Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas has filed a Petition-in-Intervention with Opposition in support of the recently enacted Republic Act No. 12232, which sets the new term of office for Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) officials. Signed into law on August 13, 2025, RA 12232 has become a subject of legal scrutiny, but the Liga strongly asserts that the law stands on solid constitutional ground.

At the heart of the petition are ten key arguments that reinforce the legality, necessity, and fairness of the measure:

1. RA 12232 is presumed constitutional. No clear violation of the Constitution has been shown.

2. Congress has the power. The 1987 Constitution expressly grants Congress the authority to fix the term of BSK officials and determine election dates.

3. Changing terms is valid. The law merely adjusts the term from three to four years, a prerogative Congress has historically exercised.

4. Not postponement, but term-fixing. Unlike RA 11935 (struck down in 2023 for “postponement”), RA 12232 deals with fixing terms, making the comparison inapplicable.

5. Different from postponement grounds. Postponement requires emergencies like calamities or violence; term-fixing is rooted in legislative policy for stability and governance.

6. Synchronizing tenure and term. The law aligns the incumbents’ tenure with the statutory three-year term, ensuring fair recognition of their duties.

7. No violation of suffrage. Elections remain regular; only the cycle changes, with a one-time adjustment.

8. Hold-over ensures continuity. It prevents a power vacuum and operates prospectively, not retroactively.

9. Equal protection upheld. BSK officials are not comparable to other elected officials whose terms are fixed by the Constitution.

10. One-subject rule satisfied. All provisions fall under one subject—the new term of BSK officials.

For the Liga, these points clearly establish that RA 12232 is not only constitutional but also essential in strengthening local governance, promoting continuity, and supporting the efficiency of grassroots leadership.

By defending the law, the Liga reaffirms its mandate to protect barangay institutions and ensure that the voices of local leaders are represented in national policy discourse.