02/06/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฝ๐๐๐พ:
The Supreme Court upholds the anti-dynasty provision of the SK Reform Actโa reminder that public service should be open to all, not limited by family ties.
SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS: POLITICAL DYNASTY NOT ALLOWED IN BARANGAY AND SK LEVELS
The Supreme Court (SC) upheld the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) cancelling the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of a candidate in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) for violating provisions of the SK Reform Law's "anti-dynasty" clause.
In a 10-page decision written by Associate Justice Antonio Kho, Jr., the SC En Banc denied the petition filed by Merson Calubag, which challenged the poll bodyโs resolutions disqualifying him as a SK chairperson candidate of Barangay Magtangale, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte during the last BSKE.
The Comelec Second Division found out that Calubag falsely stated a material fact in his COC when he declared that he was not related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent Sangguniang Barangay (village council) member of Barangay Magtangale, despite his mother being a member.
The poll body cancelled his candidacy, prompting him to elevate the case before the Supreme Court. In upholding the said ruling, the high court found that the COMELEC did not act with grave abuse of discretion in cancelling the candidacy of Calubag.
It recognized the legislative framework in RA 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 for preventing the creation and expansion of political dynasties in the country as the Legislativeโs answer to the constitutional call to define political dynasties, at least at the barangay and [Sangguniang Kabataan] levels.
The highest bench also cited Section 10, of the said law which requires that a candidate for the position in the SK must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national office, or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official, in the locality where they seek to be elected.
It held that such โbreathes life to the constitutionally enshrined policy of the sovereign to prohibit political dynasties.โ
