By a vote of 11-3 with one abstention, the Supreme Court has ordered the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to postpone the conduct of the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to a date no later than March 31, 2026.
In its September 30 ruling, the High Court struck down as unconstitutional Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 58 and BAA No. 77, both passed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which created and reconstituted parliamentary districts in the region.
The tribunal also directed the BTA to pass a replacement law outlining BARMM’s legislative districts before the end of October.
“From the finality of this decision, respondent Bangsamoro Transition Authority shall immediately undertake, by October 30, 2025 at the latest, the accomplishment of the determination of parliamentary districts for the first regular election for the members of the Parliament in strict compliance with the priorities and requirements provided in the Bangsamoro Organic Law, as well as the criteria laid down in this Decision,” the SC stated.
The Court further instructed COMELEC to prepare accordingly: “Thereafter, and in compliance with Section 5 of the Voter’s Registration Act, respondent Commission on Elections is directed to promptly proceed with its preparations and conduct elections not later than March 31, 2026.”
Additionally, the SC clarified that the nullification of BAA 77 does not revive the earlier BAA 58, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2024, which originally included Sulu in its parliamentary districts.