Supreme Court issues TRO vs BARMM redistricting

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The decision comes less than a month before the first parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro region

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on Monday, September
15, against a regional law that reconfigured the Bangsamoro region’s parliamentary districts and distributed seven seats initially assigned to Sulu.

The decision comes less than a month before the first parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), however, said earlier that it would not be able to implement the BARMM redistricting law. It said it would proceed with the regional elections without the seven seats originally reserved for Sulu – a province excluded from the region in 2024 – due to lack of time.

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority passed Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 77 five days after the election period in the region started. BAA 77 amends the original division of parliamentary seats as stated in BAA 58.

Those who filed petitions for certiorari and prohibition said BAA 77 violated the Voter’s Registration Act for altering precincts during election period. Others argued that BAA 77 is unconstitutional.

The SC ordered the Comelec and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to file their comments five days from notice.

“Kailangan po namin mapag-usapan kaagad bukas sa en banc ang TRO na ito,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia told reporters on Tuesday, September 16. “Kaagad po nating pag-aaralan ang epekto nito sa halalan ng Oktubre 13 at kung kailangan ba kami tumigil sa paghahanda.”

(We need to discuss the TRO tomorrow en banc. We need to study its effect to the elections on October 13 and if we need to stop preparations.)

The upcoming elections will instead follow the division of parliamentary district seats according to BAA 58, which was passed on February 28, 2024. Here’s the breakdown of division between the two laws:

In September 2024, the SC excluded Sulu from BARMM because the province rejected the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. – Rappler.com