SC halts Bangsamoro polls, voids two districting laws

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the postponement of the Bangsamoro elections originally scheduled on October 13 after it declared two districting laws by the autonomous government as unconstitutional.

At a media briefing on Wednesday, High Court spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said the SC en banc declared the Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts (BAAs) 58 and 77 unconstitutional.

"A new and valid districting law must be passed consistent with the Bangsamoro Organic Law, national laws, and the Constitution. There can be no BARMM parliamentary elections… because of the lack of a valid districting law," she said.

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

According to the spokesperson, the SC enjoined the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from enforcing the BAA 77.

She said the decision is immediately executory.

Back to zero

Comelec, for its part, said it is now "back to zero" for the poll body as there will be no law to serve as the basis for the first-ever parliamentary elections.

"Now, it is very clear that we have no law to enforce. It's back to zero for Comelec," said Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia.

"But in the meantime, the ball is in the hands of the Bangsamoro Parliament. We shall be waiting for their action and compliance," he said.

Malacañang said it respects the decision of the high court, describing it as a "pivotal step" in ensuring that the BARMM parliamentary polls "will be conducted on the firmest constitutional and legal foundations."

"The Palace underscores its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the peace process, strengthening democratic institutions, and protecting the political rights of all citizens in the Bangsamoro," Malacañang said in a statement.

"This is part of the continuing national effort to achieve just and lasting peace in Mindanao, anchored on meaningful autonomy, the rule of law, and the exercise of suffrage."

GMA News Online has requested comment from the BARMM government regarding the Supreme Court decision, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

Preparations

Meanwhile, the SC directed Comelec to continue its preparations and conduct the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections no later than March 31, 2026.

Ting said 11 justices voted in favor of the decision and three concurred in the declaration of the nullity of BAA 77 but dissented with the finding that the BAA 58 is invalid.

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. — with a report from Sundy Locus/ VDV/VBL, GMA Integrated News