The Supreme Court (SC) En Banc, during its special session on September 15, 2025, acted on the following:

G.R. No. E-02219, Lanang T. Ali, Jr., Samsodin C. Amella, and Datuan M. Magon, Jr. v. Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament, Abdulraof A. Macacua, in his capacity as the Interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Commission on Elections

G.R. No. E-02235, Abdullah G. Macapaar, also known as “Commander Bravo,” Mangontawar M. Macacuna, Sultan Alim Saad I. Amate, Najer D. Eppie, Nasif G. Marangit, and Maulana L. Mamutuk v. Commission on Elections and

Bangsamoro Transition Authority

The SC ordered the consolidation of G.R. No. E-02119 and G.R. No. E-02235 and issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining 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, pending the final resolution of these cases. The TRO is effective immediately.  

The BTA was created under Republic Act No. (RA) 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, to serve as the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during its transition period.

Under Republic Act No. 12123, the first parliamentary elections in the BARMM are scheduled on October 13, 2025, with the COMELEC setting the election period to begin on August 14, 2025. 

On August 19, 2025, five days after the election period started, the BTA passed BAA 77, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025. This law reorganizes parliamentary districts within BARMM to reallocate the seven parliamentary seats initially assigned to the Province of Sulu. In its 2024 ruling in Province of Sulu v. Medialdea, the SC held that Sulu is not a part of BARMM.

Petitioners in G.R. No. E-02219 filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition with prayer for TRO challenging BAA 77 for allegedly violating the Voter’s Registration Act by altering precincts during the election period, among others.

Petitioners in G.R. No. E002235 likewise filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition and for the issuance of a status quo ante order, arguing BAA 77 is unconstitutional for violating the provisions on ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections during election period, among others.

The SC ordered the COMELEC and BTA to file their comment to the petitions within a non-extendible period of five days from notice.