BTA member, others ask SC to direct Comelec to resume Bangsamoro polls

Bangsamoro Transition Authority member Abdullah Macapaar and others on Friday asked the Supreme Court to direct the Commission on Elections to resume its preparations for the Bangsamoro elections.

The petitioners filed a very urgent motion, with leave, for clarification of the temporary restraining order and reiteration of status quo and mandatory injunction.

“Itong petition namin nakakatulong ito sa Comelec para gawin nila ‘yung mandate nila na ituloy ang election dahil hindi nila kayang ituloy ang election based on the BAA 77,” Ranao Charitables Initiatives chairman Maulana Mamutuk said.

(This petition of ours helps the Comelec so that they can fulfill their mandate to continue the election because they cannot proceed with the election based on BAA 77.)

The High Court previously issued a TRO that enjoined the poll body, the 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 reallocated seven parliamentary districts initially assigned to Sulu.

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

Due to the TRO, the Comelec suspended its preparations.

However, Mamutuk said that the TRO was issued against BAA 77 and not the Comelec’s preparations. 

“Kasi hindi namin hiningi na i-postpone ang election. Ang hiningi namin, ‘yung bagong batas na hindi kayang ipatupad ng Comelec, ‘yun ang hihinto, para mabigyan ng daan ang Comelec na itupad nila ‘yung constitutional mandate nila,” Mamutuk said.

(Because we did not ask to postpone the election. What we asked for is that the new law, which the Comelec cannot implement, be suspended, so that the Comelec can be given the chance to carry out their constitutional mandate.)

Mamutuk said that the suspension of the preparations has “disenfranchised millions.” 

“Comelec’s blanket suspension of preparation for the October 13 BARMM Parliamentary elections has created a crisis of confidence,” Mamutuk said.

In a message to reporters, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said that the petitioners should not direct their call to the poll body.

“Magandang maitanong din sa kanila, anong batas ang basehan ng Comelec sa ngayon sa paghahanda para sa halalan na dapat ay sa October 13 ganung ’yung BAA 77 ay na-TRO ng SC?” he said.

(It will be good to ask them, what would be the basis of Comelec in preparing for the elections now that the BAA 77 received a TRO from the SC?)

“Ang BAA 58 na sa kasalukuyan ay patay na? Dapat siguro hindi sa amin ang maging panawagan nila,” he added.

(Should we based it on the BAA 58, which has been repealed? Maybe they should not be directing their call to us.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News