SC issues TRO vs. implementation of Bangsamoro Autonomy Act

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it has issued a temporary restraining order against the implementation of a Bangsamoro Act that reallocated seven parliamentary districts initially assigned to Sulu.

According to the SC, the TRO is effective immediately.

The SC said the TRO enjoins the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), and all persons acting under their authority from implementing the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. (BAA) 77, pending the final resolution of the case.

The BAA No. 77 or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Act of 2025 amended BAA No. 58 and redistricted the vacant seats in light of an SC decision excluding Sulu from the autonomous region.

In 2024, the SC held that Sulu is not part of the Bangsamoro Region.

The court said that the case stemmed from the petition filed by Lanang Ali Jr., Samsodin Amella, and Datuan Magon Jr. as well as the petition filed by Abdullah Macapaar, Mangontawar Macacuna, Sultan Alim Amate, Najer Eppie , Nasif Marangit, and Maulana Mamutuk.

The SC consolidated the petitions.

It also ordered the Comelec and the BTA to file their comment within a non-extendible period of five days from notice.

For their part, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the En Banc will discuss the TRO on Wednesday.

“Kailangan po namin mapag-usapan kaagad bukas sa En Banc ang TRO na ito. Kaagad po nating pag-aaralan ang epekto nito sa halalan ng Oktubre 13 at kung kailangan ba kami tumigil sa paghahanda,” he told reporters.

(We need to immediately discuss this TRO tomorrow in the En Banc. We will promptly study its effect on the October 13 elections and whether we need to stop the preparations.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News