MANILA — A petition challenging the legality of the P114-billion 2026 budget of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was filed before the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Petitioners Abdulsukor Mustapah and Bohari Lampatan sought a certiorari and the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 85, which outlines the region’s operational budget for 2026.

They argued that BAA No. 85 violates the Constitution and the Bangsamoro Organic Law for allegedly failing to prioritize education in government spending. The petition noted that only 23.22% or P26 billion of the budget was allocated to the Ministry of Education.

“According sa Constitution at BOL, number one dapat na bigyang prayoridad sa budget ang education sector. Nalabag nila,” Datu Tokz Bin Abdu Rahman, Save Bangsamoro Movement, spokesperson, told reporters.

(The Constitution and BOL states the education sector should be given priority in the budget. They violated it.)

Rahman also claimed that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) reduced funding for social services and committed grave abuse of discretion by allocating 41% or around P47 billion to the office of BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.

“Ating hinihiling sa Korte Suprema ay maglabas ng TRO at tuluyan nang i-declare na unconstitutional itong BAA No. 85 na ipinasa ng BTA,” Rahman added.

(We’re asking the SC to issue a TRO and declare BAA No. 85 unconstitutional.)

In December 2025, the BTA approved BAA No. 85, which provides funding for the operations of the Bangsamoro government for 2026.