THE Supreme Court (SC) has announced the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a Bangsamoro law redistributing the seven parliamentary district seats originally allotted to Sulu province.
During its special session on Monday, the SC en banc issued the TRO pending the final resolution of two petitions challenging the aforementioned law.
The TRO enjoins the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), and all persons acting under their authority from implementing Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. (BAA) 77.
The SC said the TRO takes effect immediately.
The arguments raised by petitioners included alleged violation of the Voter’s Registration Act by altering precincts during the election period, as well as the provisions ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections.
Meanwhile, the High Tribunal also directed the Comelec and the BTA to file their comments to the petitions within a non-extendible period of five days from receipt of notice.
For his part, Comelec chairman George Garcia said the poll body sitting en banc will discuss the effect of the TRO on the upcoming first parliamentary elections scheduled on Oct. 13.
The poll body set the election period to begin on Aug. 14. Five days after it started, the BTA passed the law in question resulting in the reallocation of seats initially assigned to the Sulu.
In its 2024 ruling, the SC ruled that Sulu is not a part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
