The constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) was upheld by the Supreme Court, though it was ruled that the province of Sulu is not part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) after voting against the ratification of the law.
According to Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting, the decision will be enforced immediately.
The ruling, penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, granted Sulu’s petition to be excluded from the BARMM despite the dismissal of challenges to other provisions of the BOL.
Leonen highlighted that, since Sulu rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the plebiscite, it was inappropriate to include the province in the BARMM.
Many in the BARMM were surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision, particularly as it was authored by Leonen, who had previously served as the chief negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Leonen played a key role in negotiations that led to the 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
BARMM spokesperson Mohd Asnin Pendatun stated that they had yet to receive a copy of the decision and would only issue a statement after their meeting later in the day.
The BARMM was established as a political entity on July 27, 2018, and its basic governmental structure was created. The region’s formation and territorial boundaries took effect after a plebiscite, where the majority of voters approved the law.
The plebiscite was held on January 21, 2019, covering areas of the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), as well as Isabela City in Basilan and Cotabato City.
A second plebiscite followed on February 6, 2019, in Lanao del Norte, selected municipalities in North Cotabato, and other regions wishing to be included in the BARMM.
Although the majority of ARMM voters ratified the law, Sulu voters rejected it. Despite this, the province was included in the BARMM, prompting them to file a petition with the Supreme Court.