In a significant step toward clarifying the implications of the Supreme Court ruling and ensuring the timely conduct of the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, a high-level dialogue-forum was held today at SEDA Manila Bay, Aseana City, Parañaque City.
The Supreme Court has permanently struck down Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77 (BAA 77) or the Bangsamoro Redistricting Act of 2025, declaring it unconstitutional and unfit to govern the October 13, 2025 parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Read more: FULL TEXT: Supreme Court Decision on Bangsamoro Redistricting Act of 2025
In Minute Resolution No. 25-1034, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) convened in executive session to assess the impact of the Supreme Court’s Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77 on the October 13, 2025 BARMM Parliamentary Elections. The TRO, which bars implementation of the district reallocation law, has halted key preparatory activities including assemblies, training, and logistics. Compounded by severe flooding in multiple BARMM municipalities and delays in Starlink equipment deployment, the Commission now faces legal ambiguity and operational gridlock. Citing force majeure under Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code, COMELEC has called for stakeholder comments within 48 hours before deciding whether to postpone the elections to ensure a free, orderly, and credible process.
Read more: COMELEC Weighs Postponement of BARMM Elections Amid Supreme Court TRO and Flooding
The COMELEC has officially recalibrated its roadmap for the BARMM parliamentary elections, following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision declaring Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts Nos. 58 and 77 unconstitutional. The ruling nullifies the region’s previous districting laws and mandates the BTA to redraw parliamentary districts by October 30, 2025, effectively postponing the elections to no later than March 31, 2026.
The Independent Election Monitoring Center (IEMC) has expressed full support for the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) decision to halt preparations for the October 13 Regional Parliamentary Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, pending clarification from the Supreme Court on its temporary injunction against BAA 77. In a statement released September 18, IEMC emphasized that neither BAA 77 nor the repealed BAA 58 provides a valid legal basis for the elections, and urged the Supreme Court, Comelec, and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to swiftly resolve the legal uncertainties to safeguard the integrity and timely conduct of the electoral process.