BARMM campaign, election periods not lifted despite SC TRO — Comelec

The campaign and election periods for the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are not lifted as the poll body awaits the Supreme Court's final resolution on the Bangsamoro Act that reallocated seven parliamentary districts initially assigned to Sulu.

In its Memorandum 251266, the Comelec said it has resolved to adopt the recommendations of its law department on the effect of the SC's temporary restraining order (TRO) on the conduct of the BARMM polls, including:

"The campaign and election periods for the 13 October 2025 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections are not lifted, and all election prohibitions in connection therewith remain in effect."

Moreover, the poll body said processing of requests for authority in relation to specific election prohibitions shall continue, in accordance with the Omnibus Election Code, and other applicable laws.

On Wednesday, the poll body announced it is suspending its preparations for the parliamentary polls in compliance with the TRO issued by the SC enjoining the Comelec, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), and all persons acting under their authority from implementing the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 77, pending the final resolution of the case.

The BAA 77 or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Act of 2025 amended BAA 58 and redistricted the vacant seats in light of an SC decision that excluded Sulu from the autonomous region.

The SC has said the TRO enjoins the Comelec, the BTA, and all persons acting under their authority from implementing the BAA 77, pending the final resolution of the case.

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

The court said 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.

Earlier, poll chief George Erwin Garcia said it was still uncertain if the October 13 polls will proceed.

The Bangsamoro polls were reset from May 12 to October 13, 2025 after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in February signed into law the measure postponing the parliamentary elections. 

The suspension came months after the SC, in September 2024, upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law but declared that Sulu was not part of BARMM. The Court denied motions seeking the reversal of the decision in November 2024.

The SC ruling necessitated the redistribution of the seven vacated seats originally allocated to Sulu under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code. The BTA issued BAA 77 in August but Comelec said it would not implement the law due to "lack of material time" for the preparations. — VDV, GMA Integrated News