(Photo by PNA)
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned the public against a manipulated infographic circulating on social media falsely claiming that special Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will be held on November 28, 2026.
In a social media advisory on Friday, October 9, the poll body clarified that no barangay or youth council elections are scheduled on that date anywhere in the country.
“This Facebook post by a person named Rosas Marlon Vlogs is fake news claiming that there will be a Special Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on November 28, 2026,” Comelec said.
The commission explained that the misleading infographic had been altered to make it appear that the official calendar of activities for a special congressional election in Batanes referred to the BSKE.
“This infographic was manipulated to make it appear that the Calendar of Activities for the Special Elections in the Lone Legislative District of the Province of Batanes is for the BSKE,” it added.
Comelec clarified that the November 28 special election will be held exclusively in Batanes to fill the congressional seat left vacant following the death of Representative Ciriaco Gato Jr.
Gato, 66, died of a heart attack on September 21 while serving his third and final term in the House of Representatives.
“There will be no Barangay and Youth Council elections in the Province of Batanes and the entire nation on November 28, 2026,” the poll body emphasized.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12326 on September 24, postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections originally scheduled for November 2, 2026, to November 2028.
The law also extends the term of office of barangay and youth council officials to five years.
Comelec urged the public to be cautious about election-related information circulating online and to rely on official announcements to avoid confusion and the spread of misinformation.