MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing the Legal Education Board (LEB) from enforcing its resolutions that would close the Mindanao State University (MSU) College of Law by the Academic Year 2025-2026.

The TRO was granted in response to separate petitions filed by MSU and Abdul Rahman Ltiph Nasser. The petitioners challenged the LEB’s authority over the MSU College of Law, citing Republic Act No. 7662, or the Legal Education Reform Act of 1993. 

They also raised questions about the LEB’s jurisdiction over the MSU College of Law, specifically in relation to Article IX, Section 16 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

The LEB had ordered the MSU College of Law to stop offering law programs at its Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Maguindanao campuses and to shut down entirely by 2025-2026, citing non-compliance with regulatory standards. 

MSU, however, argued that the LEB’s actions would adversely affect legal education in the region.

The Supreme Court also required both MSU and the LEB to submit memoranda within 15 days regarding the effect of the BOL on the LEB’s jurisdiction over MSU.