League of Bangsamoro Organizations (LBO) set to file petition with the Supreme Court to question constitutionality of BAA No. 77
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MANILA (SDN) — Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Ali Pangalian M. Balindong protested the signing of the redistricting bill into law, saying he did not give his authorization to sign “For” him.
It turned out the one who l signed on Balindong’s behalf is Parliament Deputy Speaker Nabil Tan as the former was not present.
Then Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua subsequently affixed on August 27 his signature, and Parliament Bill No. 351 became the Bangsamoro Autonomous Act (BAA) No. 77.
The law reconfigured or reapportioned the seven district seats that Sulu left after the Supreme Court in September 2024 ruled that the Western Mindanao province is not part of the Bangsamoro family.
It was a ruling that accompanied the High Courts declaration of the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
On Thursday, August 27, Balindong issued a Notice to the Public, saying BAA No. 77 “is without authority”.
“For the record, I have neither signed nor authorized any person to sign on my behalf with respect to the said measure. The signature appearing as “For” is unauthorized, void, and without legal effect, constituting a violation of law. Accordingly, BAA No. 77 cannot be deemed signed or enacted,” the speaker of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament emphasizes.
The Bangsamoro leader cited Section 4(k), Rule IV of Resolution No. 268, otherwise known as the Parliamentary Rules, Procedures, and Practices of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (*Parliamentary Rules”), it is the Speaker who is vested with the duty and power to sign all acts, resolutions, bills issued by or upon order of the Parliament.”
Balindong, explaining further, said “a designated presiding officer may sign only upon the express delegation by the Speaker.”
Not long after Balindong’s notice circulated on social media, his most senior deputy speaker issued a statement on why, among others, he signed for the speaker.
“While it is true that my signature was affixed without the express and written permission of the Honorable Speaker, I firmly maintain that the act is sanctioned by the Parliamentary Rules and is therefore valid and legally effective,” Tan asserts.
He cited Section 5 that speaks about deputy speaker, to with: “Each of the Deputy of Speakers shall assist the Speaker in the performance of his/her functions and duties.”
Moro organizations to hold rally before Supreme Court, Friday, August 29
Tan mentioned the duties and powers of the deputy speakers, including acting as the speaker when he/she is designated in case of the Speaker’s incapacity or absence until the Speaker returns to continue his/her work.
“In the event that the Speaker does not make such a designation, the Deputy Speaker most senior in age shall act as the Speaker only for purposes of ensuring the continued operations of the Parliament” but with caveat.
On Wednesday, August 27, BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua signed the bill into law.
Meanwhile, the League of Bangsamoro Organizations (LBO) relayed to SDN – SciTech and Digital News their plan to file at the Supreme Court a petition to block BAA No. 77.
The LBO claims to have 634 Moro organizations based in Cotabato City, the capital of the BARMM, that counts chapters nationwide.
Scheduled to speak at their Solidarity Rally in front of the Supreme Court along Padre Faura Street, Manila, are Member of Parliament (MP) Atty. Lanang Ali, Jr., LBO Secretary General Mahdi Amalia, and Spokesperson Datuan “Dats” Magon of the Federation of Bangsamoro Coordination Councils of the Philippines (FBCCP).
Their petition challenges the constitutionality of BAA No. 77, also called Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025. (โ)