PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE SUPREME COURT (SC) en banc has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the enforcement of a law reorganizing parliamentary districts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ahead of its first parliamentary elections on Oct. 13.

In a special session on Sept. 15, the SC ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), and their agents to stop implementing Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77, pending resolution of the cases. The TRO takes effect immediately.

BAA No. 77, the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025, reallocates the seven parliamentary districts, initially assigned to Sulu. The law was passed on Aug. 19, just five days after the election period started.

The two cases, which have been consolidated, argued that the act is unconstitutional and in violation of election rules. Petitioners said the law disrupts voting arrangements in the mid-election period and undermines the constitutional guarantee of free and credible polls.

The redistricting followed the high court’s 2024 ruling that Sulu is not a part of BARMM after the province rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law’s ratification.

The law, enacted on July 27, 2018, established BARMM as a political entity and its governmental structure. The majority of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) ratified it, except for Sulu. Sulu filed the petition as it was included in BARMM despite not ratifying the law.

The SC gave the Comelec and BTA five days, without extension, to respond.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia on Tuesday said the commission will immediately tackle the TRO to study its impact to the October polls and determine whether preparations need to be halted.

“We need to discuss this TRO in the En Banc tomorrow,” he told reporters in Filipino over Viber.

“We will promptly study its effect on the Oct. 13 elections and whether we need to pause preparations.” — Erika Mae P. Sinaking