THE Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will remain the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) until new officials are elected or appointed, Malacañang said, following the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to postpone the region’s elections.
The high court earlier this month ordered the deferment of the BARMM polls — initially set for Oct. 13 — to a date no later than March 31, 2026, after issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act, or Bangsamoro Autonomy Act 77.
“The authority to make changes in the composition of the BTA during the transition remains with the Office of the President, as provided by law,” Malacañang said in a statement on Thursday. “No formal reappointment is necessary, as current members continue to hold office by operation of law until replaced or succeeded.”
It said the continuity of the BTA’s mandate ensures “legal stability and an orderly transition,” consistent with Republic Act (RA) No. 12123 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and the Supreme Court ruling.
The palace added that keeping the transition body intact is vital for maintaining peace and governance in the region while electoral preparations remain on hold.
The Commission on Elections suspended preparations for the postponed polls following the restraining order, which stemmed from petitions contesting the reallocation of seven parliamentary seats originally designated for Sulu. The high court last year ruled that Sulu was not part of BARMM, prompting legal challenges over the redistricting law’s validity.
RA No. 12123, enacted in February, moved the first regular BARMM elections from May to October 2025, with future polls to coincide with the 2028 national elections and every three years thereafter.
Malacañang said the Office of the President remains committed to advancing peace and self-governance in the Bangsamoro region, citing the extension of the BTA’s authority as part of efforts to uphold “autonomy, rule of law and the right to suffrage.”
It said the government would continue working with constitutional bodies and regional partners to ensure a smooth transition and credible elections once the high court resolves the pending petitions. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
