Malacañang respects the Supreme Court’s decision declaring unconstitutional the redistricting laws passed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which consequently postponed the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections originally set for October 13.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, the Office of the President described the decision as a “pivotal step” to ensure that the historic elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will be conducted on a solid constitutional foundation.
“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,” the statement read.
“The administration will extend its full support to all constitutionally mandated institutions in order to ensure that the democratic aspirations of the Bangsamoro people are realized within the framework of the Constitution and the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” it added.
Malacañang also vowed full support for constitutionally mandated institutions, including the Commission on Elections, ensuring that the democratic aspirations of the Bangsamoro people are fulfilled within the framework of the Constitution and the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
“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,” the Palace said.
The Supreme Court declared the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77 unconstitutional.
The law sought to redistribute seven parliamentary seats originally allocated to Sulu province, despite the Court’s earlier ruling that Sulu could not be part of BARMM after its voters rejected the region’s organic law in a 2019 plebiscite.
The justices ruled that the BTA’s redistricting efforts lacked a constitutional and legal basis, violated provisions of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and undermined the representation rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
The Court also issued a directive to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to reset the first parliamentary elections and hold them no later than March 31, 2026.
The postponed parliamentary polls were supposed to be the first since the establishment of BARMM in 2019, marking a significant milestone in the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
