The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has lifted the gun ban and all other election-related restrictions in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) after the Supreme Court ordered the postponement of the region’s parliamentary elections.
In a resolution dated October 3, the Comelec en banc directed the removal of all prohibitions tied to the polls, including restrictions on the bearing, carrying, and transporting of firearms in BARMM and in Isabela City, Basilan.
The poll body also said it will adjust the timeline of election activities in compliance with the High Tribunal’s ruling, which set the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) no later than March 31, 2026.
The Comelec noted that earlier submissions from candidates, political parties, sectoral groups, and other stakeholders have been rendered moot and academic following the court’s decision.
The ruling came after the SC invalidated Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts (BAA) 58 and 77, laws that had redrawn parliamentary districts and reallocated seats intended for Sulu. In their place, BAA 88—also known as the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2024—now ensures Sulu’s inclusion in the district configuration.
Comelec further said it is awaiting the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s (BTA) compliance with the SC directive on finalizing parliamentary districts, with the deadline set on October 30.
The BARMM elections were originally scheduled for October 13, 2025, but preparations were stopped following the SC’s 11-3 ruling with one abstention last September 30.