Philippines’ Muslim Region redistricting law challenged
They said such candidates are not permitted to file a new or corrected COC under the newly constituted Third District
MANILA, Philippines (MNTV) – Civil society groups based in Lanao del Sur municipality of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77, reports the Philippine News Agency.
The petitioners claim that the law has redistricted municipalities in violation of existing laws, which require consultation as well as the requirement that areas to be redistricted “shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact and adjacent territorial jurisdictions.”
Named respondents are the Commission on Elections and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
“Sec. 5 of BAA 77 has the effect of depriving candidates of their right to be voted for in the district where they filed their certificates of candidacy (COC). Likewise, voters are deprived of the right to vote for the candidates they intended to support, based on the political configuration in place at the time of the filing,” they said.
“Ironically, a candidate may even be unable to vote for himself or herself, as their registration and residency may not fall under a different district to the redistricting imposed by BAA 77.”
They said such candidates are not permitted to file a new or corrected COC under the newly constituted Third District, even though that is now the district where their constituency is located.
“This results in a clear denial of the candidate’s right to freely participate in the electoral process and to have equal access to publicly elective office, a right guaranteed under Sec. 23, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, which provides the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law,” the petitioners said.
Petitioners in the suit are former Moro Islamic Liberation Front Northwest Mindanao Command leader and member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament Abdullah Macapaar; chairperson of the Bangsamoro Development Authority Mangontawar Macacuna; United Imams of the Philippines Sultan Alimsaad Amat Amate Najer Esppe; Nasif Marangit; and Maulana Mamutok.
The 2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election is scheduled to take place on October 13.
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