Supreme Court pushes back BARMM parliamentary polls

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court (SC) has postponed the scheduled October 13, 2025, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections as it ruled that the redistricting law, the recent Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77 (BAA 77), and its predecessor, BAA 58, are all unconstitutional.

“There can be no BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) elections on October 13, 2025, because of the lack of a valid district law,” the Supreme Court, through its Spokesperson, Atty. Camille Ting said.

She added that “a new and valid districting law must be passed consistent with the Bangsamoro organic Law, national Laws, and the Constitution.”

BAA 77, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025, is the law that redistributes the seven seats originally allocated to Sulu.

On the other hand, its predecessor, BAA 58, created the parliamentary districts in the region.

The SC stated that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority should determine the distribution of district parliamentary seats by October 30, while the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should conduct the election no later than March 31, 2026.

The BAA 77, passed on August 19, 2025, and signed into law on August 28, 2025, aimed to reorganize parliamentary districts following the removal of Sulu province from BARMM.

The law was nullified by the Supreme Court on the following grounds: first, for violating the Voters Registration Act, particularly Section 5, which prohibits any alteration of precincts once the election period has started.

Here, BAA 77 reorganizes parliamentary districts within BARMM to reallocate seats originally intended for Sulu. The law was passed on Aug. 19, 2025, five days after the election period began August 14, 2025.

Second, the high court said the law violated the Bangsamoro Organic Law’s requirement that each district should comprise adjacent and adjoining areas as far as practicable. 

Ting said that in this case, the law assigned some local government units in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Cotabato City to districts that were neither contiguous nor adjacent. The high court also went further declaring BAA 77’s predecessor, BAA 58 or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2024, also unconstitutional. 

Ting explained that BAA 58, which served as the basis for the previous district allocation, cannot be reinstated because it was established on an outdated framework that still included Sulu in its parliamentary districts. 

Ting said the decision is immediately executory.

Sought for comment, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said “Now, it is very clear that we have no law to enforce. It is back to zero for Comelec.”

“In the meantime, the ball is in the hands of the Bangsamoro Parliament. We shall be waiting for their action and compliance,” Garcia added. (with a report from Dianne Sampang) /gsg