Bangsamoro Elections Postponed Again After Supreme Court Nullifies Districting Laws
The Bangsamoro parliamentary elections have faced another setback, with the Supreme Court's nullification of key districting laws leading to a postponement and significant financial waste. The Comelec has been left without a legal framework to proceed, and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) must now act swiftly to facilitate the polls.
The Supreme Court's recent ruling has thrown the election process into disarray. The nullification of Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts (BAAs) 58 and 77, the districting laws necessary for the elections, has left the Comelec unable to proceed with voter registration, accept candidacies, or launch campaign activities. The BTA is now tasked with passing a new redistricting law by October 30, 2025, to pave the way for the elections.
The postponement has resulted in substantial financial losses. More than ₱1.2 billion in public funds have been wasted due to the delay, with additional expenses pushing the total cost of printing 2.3 million official ballots to over ₱1 billion. This is the second postponement of the elections, initially scheduled for 2022 and then moved to 2025.
The BTA has been ordered to comply with the Supreme Court's directive and begin drafting a new redistricting law immediately. The Comelec will revise its election timetable, with the filing of certificates of candidacy and reconfiguration of automated counting machines expected in January 2026. The elections are now set to be held no later than March 31, 2026.
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