The Supreme Court has given the Office of the President and other parties five days to respond to a petition contesting the deferment of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, Philstar.com reports.
The order was issued as part of the high court's review of the petition against moving the polls, according to Philstar.com. The Inquirer.net separately reported that the Supreme Court asked the government to comment on the petition opposing the postponement of the barangay and SK elections.
The court has not yet ruled on whether the postponement is constitutional, the Daily Tribune reported. Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections has said it is prepared to comply with whatever the Supreme Court decides on the BSKE, per Philstar.com.
In a related development, a local executive in Legazpi urged barangay officials to make the most of their extended terms, the Philippine News Agency reported.
The case centers on the decision to push back the village and youth polls, a move that has drawn a legal challenge now before the country's highest tribunal. The Comelec's stated readiness to follow the court's ruling suggests the agency is awaiting clarity before proceeding.
What to watch next: whether the Supreme Court rules on the petition's constitutionality and how the Comelec adjusts its preparations for the barangay and SK elections.
