SC issues stay order on reallocating Sulu parliamentary seats

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order against the implementation of a Bangsamoro law that reallocated the seven parliamentary seats initially assigned to Sulu province.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will hold its first parliamentary elections in October.

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the court said it issued the stay order against the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) from implementing Bangsamoro Autonomy Act 77, pending the final resolution of the cases challenging the legislation.

The high court said the TRO was effective immediately.

It ordered the Comelec and the BTA to file their comment to the petitions challenging the BAA 77 within a non-extendible period of five days from notice.

The poll body will discuss on Wednesday whether or not it will push through with the Oct. 13 elections, state-run Philippine News Agency reported.

The “Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025” reconstituted the parliamentary districts in the BARMM, following the Supreme Court ruling in 2024 that Sulu is not part of the autonomous region.

The BTA passed the measure on Aug. 19, or five days after the Comelec's election period began, and was signed into law on Aug. 28.

The SC said it consolidated two cases challenging the Bangsamoro law during its special session on Monday.

A group of petitioners alleged the BAA 77 violated the Voter’s Registration Act by altering precincts during the election period, among others.

Another group said the law was unconstitutional for violating the provisions on ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections, among others.