MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it has no legal basis to proceed with preparations for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections (BPE) after the Supreme Court (SC) struck down two regional laws as unconstitutional.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the ruling on Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) Nos. 58 and 77 has reset their work for the polls, which were initially scheduled for Oct. 13, 2025.

“Now, it is very clear that we have no law to enforce. It’s back to zero for Comelec,” Garcia said in a statement.

“But in the meantime, the ball is in the hands of the Bangsamoro Parliament. We shall be waiting for their action and compliance,” he added.

The SC invalidated BAA 58, which created the BARMM parliamentary districts, and BAA 77, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025, which had redistributed the seven seats originally allocated to Sulu.

The Court also ruled that the first BPE should be conducted not later than March 31, 2026.

(PNA)