Manila, Nov. 11 -- The Supreme Court (SC) en banc on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 12232, which sets the term of office of barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan to four years.

In a decision written by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, the high court denied the consolidated petitions questioning the constitutionality of the law that rescheduled the Dec. 1, 2025 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataaan Elections (BSKE) to November 2026 and every four years thereafter.

In upholding the law, the SC ruled that the Constitution grants 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 loca...