MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) En Banc declared two Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts (BAA) unconstitutional, effectively halting the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections (BPE) scheduled for October 13, 2025.

In a decision promulgated on September 30, the Court granted consolidated petitions challenging BAA 77, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025, and BAA 58, the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2024.

The justices voted 11-3-1, with the majority declaring both laws invalid. Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, along with Associate Justices Ricardo R. Rosario and Antonio T. Kho Jr., dissented on the ruling against BAA 58, arguing there was still legal basis to push through with the elections.

The Court said BAA 77 violated Section 5 of the Voter’s Registration Act, which prohibits changes to precincts once the election period has started. The measure, signed into law on August 28, 2025, reorganized Bangsamoro districts despite the election period already beginning on August 14. The SC also found that several districts under BAA 77 failed to comply with the Bangsamoro Organic Law’s requirement of contiguity.

The justices clarified that BAA 58 could not be revived, as it retained Sulu in the parliamentary setup despite the province’s earlier removal from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Instead, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) was ordered to immediately determine valid parliamentary districts by October 30, 2025, in line with the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Following this, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) was directed to conduct the parliamentary polls not later than March 31, 2026. The SC cited COMELEC’s concerns that holding elections in October would cause “massive confusion” among 2.25 million voters and would not allow sufficient time for essential preparations such as precinct assignments, poll worker training, sectoral assemblies, and deployment of satellite internet systems.

The decision is immediately executory. The full text of the ruling and separate opinions will be posted on the SC website.

Meanwhile, the Court also approved the 2025 Transitory Rules on Electronic Filing and Service, which will require all pleadings, motions, and court-issued documents in covered cases to be filed exclusively through the eCourt PH app starting October 30, 2025. Paper filings will no longer be allowed except for specified cases and non-covered filers.

The SC likewise announced that the 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Examinations will take place on May 24 and 27, 2026, with applications open from December 1 to 12, 2025 via the BARISTA app.

Separately, the judiciary will mark the third anniversary of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI) on October 22, 2025 at the Manila Hotel, highlighting reforms in efficiency, innovation, and access to justice.