Manila — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has officially recalibrated its roadmap for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections, following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision declaring Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts (BAA) Nos. 58 and 77 unconstitutional. The ruling nullifies the region’s previous districting laws and mandates the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to redraw parliamentary districts by October 30, 2025, effectively postponing the elections to no later than March 31, 2026.

In a resolution adopted on October 3, COMELEC lifted all election-related prohibitions across BARMM and Isabela City, Basilan—including the gun ban—and suspended preparations for district, sectoral, and party representative elections. The decision follows a comprehensive review of the Supreme Court’s directive and internal recommendations from the Law Department.

COMELEC acknowledged receiving 53 comments from candidates, political parties, and civil society organizations regarding the postponement. However, these were deemed moot in light of the Supreme Court’s permanent injunction against the implementation of BAA Nos. 58 and 77.

Why BAA Nos. 58 and 77 Were Declared Unconstitutional

The Supreme Court found that both BAA No. 58 and BAA No. 77 failed to comply with the priorities and requirements set by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) for determining parliamentary districts. The Court emphasized that the redistricting must be based on clear constitutional criteria and not on political expediency. It ruled that the BTA must undertake a fresh, lawful determination of districts that aligns with the BOL’s mandates, citing concerns over representation, equity, and legal clarity. The injunction against BAA No. 77 was made permanent, and BAA No. 58 was also invalidated to prevent confusion and ensure a clean slate for districting.

The ruling has significant implications for the region’s political landscape. With the BTA now tasked to determine new parliamentary districts, COMELEC’s Project Management Office and working committees have been instructed to wind down previous activities and prepare for a revised electoral process once the new districts are finalized.

New Timeline

COMELEC emphasized that the elections will proceed “not later than March 31, 2026,” in compliance with the Supreme Court’s timeline. The commission will resume preparations once the BTA fulfills its mandate to redraw the districts, ensuring that the region’s first parliamentary elections are conducted under a constitutionally sound framework.

This development marks a pivotal moment in BARMM’s transition to parliamentary governance, reinforcing the importance of legal clarity and institutional coordination in the region’s democratic evolution.