September 26, 2025 – Quezon City — The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) has called on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to proceed with the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections scheduled for October 13, 2025, emphasizing that the Supreme Court’s Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) does not justify a wholesale postponement of the polls.
The Supreme Court earlier issued a TRO halting the implementation of Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77 (BAA 77), which reorganized the region’s parliamentary districts. However, LENTE stressed that the order only applies to district-level elections and should not affect the assemblies for sectoral representatives and the elections of regional parliamentary political party representatives.
“There is no law preventing the conduct of elections for party and sectoral representatives. The blanket suspension of preparations for all elections is an illegal overreach,” the group said, underscoring that suffrage must be guaranteed where it remains possible.
Partial implementation better than full postponement
Republic Act No. 12123, which amended the Bangsamoro Organic Law (RA 11054), explicitly mandates that the first BARMM Parliamentary Elections be held on October 13, 2025. LENTE argued that this legal requirement obliges COMELEC to proceed, at least for seats unaffected by the TRO.
After reviewing relevant laws and jurisprudence, LENTE concluded that the TRO does not qualify as a “force majeure” event under the Omnibus Election Code, which allows postponement only for extraordinary causes such as terrorism, violence, or natural disasters. The group cited the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Macalintal vs. COMELEC clarifying that postponement is strictly limited to unforeseen events in specific political subdivisions.
“The present case on redistricting does not meet this standard. Disputes on the allocation of parliamentary districts have long been anticipated. It was neither unforeseen nor unexpected,” LENTE emphasized.
Impact on peace and democracy
LENTE also warned that delaying the conduct of all elections undermines not only democratic rights but also the fragile peace process in Mindanao. The BARMM parliamentary system is composed of district representatives, political party representatives, and sectoral seats. Proceeding with party and sectoral elections would allow the Bangsamoro Parliament to be partially constituted while the Supreme Court deliberates on the validity of BAA 77.
“The first BARMM Parliamentary Elections are an essential milestone in the peace process, one that required countless sacrifices. To postpone them without compelling grounds risks eroding both democracy and peace,” the group said.
Calls for urgent action
LENTE urged COMELEC to resume preparations immediately, issue public updates, and clarify that the October 13 polls for party and sectoral representatives will push through. It also called on the Supreme Court to resolve the petitions on BAA 77 with urgency and clarity to avoid further uncertainty.
COMELEC Chairperson George Garcia had earlier assured the public of the Commission’s readiness for the BARMM elections. LENTE said these assurances, together with the clear mandate of RA 12123, should compel the poll body to reverse its direction on blanket postponement.
LENTE will be submitting its official comments on COMELEC Minute Resolution No. 25-1034 by Saturday, September 27, within the 48-hour window given to stakeholders.