The Commission on Elections warned lawmakers that the P16-billion budget allocated for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) cannot be legally redirected to other government programs, even if Congress decides to postpone the polls.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said while Congress may defer elections, any attempt to realign funds outside the poll body would violate the Constitution and risk being struck down by the Supreme Court.
The poll body emphasized that election funds must remain within Comelec, citing legal precedents that invalidated past attempts to divert election budgets for other crises.
Senators, including Panfilo Lacson, suggested that unspent funds could instead be treated as savings and returned to the National Treasury as a lawful alternative.
Despite ongoing debates, Comelec said it will continue preparations for the scheduled elections while awaiting final congressional action.
Source: PhilNews24 | April 14, 2026
