SC stops redistribution of Sulu parliamentary seats

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court yesterday stopped the redistribution or redistricting of seven parliamentary seats in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) originally allotted to Sulu.

The SC issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a law passed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) mandating the redistribution of Sulu parliamentary seats.

The high tribunal said the TRO is effective immediately and will remain in place pending the final resolution of a consolidated petition challenging the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 77 or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Act of 2025.

Following the issuance of the TRO, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would discuss today the possibility of halting preparations for the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.

“The Comelec en banc needs to disuss the temporary restraining order and its impact on the holding of the parliamentary elections in October. We need to determine if we need to cease all preparations for the elections,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.

The poll body earlier reported that it has completed printing and verification of official ballots for the BARMM elections. Deployment of poll paraphernalia is supposed to be finished by the end of this month.

The BAA 77, passed by the BTA on Aug. 19, provides for the redistribution of the parliamentary seats in compliance with an SC ruling excluding Sulu from BARMM.

Last year, the SC ruled that Sulu is not part of the Bangsamoro region as residents did not ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which established the BARMM.

The TRO stemmed from petitions filed by Lanang Ali Jr., Alim Amate, Samsodin Amella, Najer Eppie, Datuan Magon Jr., Mangontawar Macacuna, Abdullah Macapaar, Maulana Mamutuk and Nasif Marangit.

The SC consolidated the petitions and ordered the Comelec and the BTA to file their comments within five days from receipt of notice.

Petitioners argued that the law violated the Voter’s Registration Act as it altered the poll precincts during the election period as well as provisions ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections.

On Monday, the Bangsamoro government turned over to the Zamboanga peninsula jurisdiction over the Sulu police.

Earlier, President Marcos signed an executive order placing Sulu under the administrative jurisdiction of Zamboanga peninsula as part of the SC ruling that removed the province from the Bangsamoro region. — Mayen Jaymalin, John Unson