SC blocks plebiscite on creation of 3 BARMM towns

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday blocked the conduct of a plebiscite on the creation of three new municipalities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In a statement, the SC directed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) not to perform acts related to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts 53, 54, and 55.

“The prayer for injunctive relief is also granted. Accordingly, a final prohibitory injunction is issued, effective immediately,” the SC said.

''We will immediately comply and stop any and all preparations,'' Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in response to the SC ruling.

The SC's action stemmed from the petitions challenging the constitutionality of Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts 53, 54, and 55, which created the Municipalities of Nuling, Datu Sinsuat Balabaran, and Sheik Abas Hamza, all in Maguindanao del Norte, respectively.

The Comelec had issued two resolutions setting the plebiscite to ratify the creation of the three new municipalities for September 7 and 21, 2024.

In its decision, the SC declared unconstitutional Section 5 in the assailed acts.

Section 5 only allows the qualified voters of the barangays comprising the new municipalities to vote in the plebiscite.

However, the SC said that qualified voters from both the new and mother municipalities should be included. — VBL, GMA Integrated News