G.R. No. E-02219 & E-02235, September 30, 2025.
LANANG T. ALI, JR., ET AL. and ABDULLAH G. MACAPAAR, ET AL., PETITIONERS, vs. BANGSAMORO TRANSITION AUTHORITY PARLIAMENT, ET AL. and COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS AND BANGSAMORO TRANSITION AUTHORITY, RESPONDENTS.

FACTS

The petitions assail Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77 (BAA 77) or the “Bangsamoro Redistricting Act of 2025.” The first petition (G.R. No. E-02219) was filed by Lanang T. Ali, Jr., et al. against the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament, Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua, and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The second petition (G.R. No. E-02235) was filed by Abdullah G. Macapaar, et al. against the COMELEC and the BTA. The antecedent facts are: Republic Act No. 11054 , the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Bangsamoro Organic Law), was signed in 2018. The first regular election for the Bangsamoro Government, initially synchronized with the 2022 national elections, was postponed to synchronize with the 2025 national elections via RA 11593. The BTA enacted BAA 58, the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2024, apportioning 32 parliamentary districts. Subsequently, in Province of Sulu v. Medialdea, the Supreme Court declared the inclusion of the Province of Sulu in the BARMM unconstitutional, necessitating a reallocation of the seven parliamentary seats allocated to Sulu under BAA 58. RA 12123 later postponed the BARMM parliamentary elections to October 13, 2025. Despite the commencement of the election period on August 14, 2025, the BTA passed BAA 77 on August 19, 2025, which was signed by the Interim Chief Minister on August 28, 2025. However, the BTA Speaker released a notice stating he neither signed nor authorized the signing of BAA 77, declaring the signature unauthorized and void. The COMELEC initially postponed the printing of ballots but resumed it on August 28, 2025. The petitioners filed their suits, and the Court consolidated the petitions and issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the implementation of BAA 77 on September 15, 2025. The COMELEC complied by suspending all related preparations.

ISSUE

The central issue is whether the Commission on Elections should conduct the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections on October 13, 2025, based on BAA 77, given the challenges to its validity.

RULING

The Supreme Court, through Justice Zalameda, granted the petitions. The Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order on September 15, 2025, suspending the implementation and enforcement of BAA 77. In compliance, the COMELEC, through Minute Resolution No. 25-1015, suspended all preparations for district, sectoral, and party representative elections in the BARMM as of September 17, 2025, until the TRO is lifted or the validity of BAA 77 is resolved. The Court’s decision emphasizes the need for thoroughness and dignity in conducting the first Bangsamoro elections and questions proceeding with an election based on an infirm law. The ruling effectively halts the use of BAA 77 as the legal basis for the October 13, 2025, parliamentary elections pending resolution of its validity.