A veteran election lawyer plans to file a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the newly signed law postponing the December Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

The bill, signed into law by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, defers the nationwide local elections to prioritize the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) polls, scheduled in October.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said they are preparing a petition, arguing that the decision lacks legal basis and violates the Constitution.

“Basahin mo ang batas, wala kang makikita tungkol sa postponement. Not a single word of postponement,” Macalintal said in an interview.

He also criticized the law as misleading.

"Yang batas na ‘yan very deceptive. May kaunting panlilinlang kasi ayaw sabihin na ito ay postponement,” he added.

President Marcos earlier said during a press briefing in India, as part of his five-day state visit, that the government must prioritize the BARMM polls, calling them vital to the ongoing peace process in the region.

Despite potential constitutional challenges, the administration has maintained that the regional election is a priority.