Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson warned that funds allocated for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) cannot be diverted to address the ongoing oil crisis, stressing that such a move would violate the Constitution.

Lacson issued the statement following concerns raised by George Garcia over proposals from some lawmakers to realign around ₱16 billion in election funds for fuel-related interventions. The funds were originally earmarked for conducting the BSKE.

He emphasized that even if the elections are postponed, the budget cannot simply be repurposed. “Labag sa ating saligang Batas ang realignment ng pondo,” Lacson said, underscoring that appropriated funds must be used solely for their intended purpose.

According to the senator, the only legal option is for the unused funds to be declared as savings if the BSKE does not push through. These savings must then be returned to the National Treasury, where they may be reallocated for other government programs.

Congress had allocated ₱19 billion for the BSKE, of which around ₱3 billion has already been spent by the Commission on Elections. The elections, originally scheduled for December 1, 2025, have been postponed to November 2, 2026.

The proposal to tap election funds comes amid rising fuel prices, but Lacson maintained that any response to the oil crisis must remain within legal and constitutional bounds.