Cotabato city: The head of the Bangsamoro region has welcomed the Supreme Court's issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77, assuring that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) transition government will submit its comments.

According to Philippines News Agency, Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua stressed that BAA 77 remains a valid enactment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament and will enjoy a presumption of regularity until the Court renders its final judgment. 'In full compliance with the Court's directive, the Bangsamoro Government will be filing its comment within the prescribed non-extendible period,' Macacua said.

The regional legislation redistributed seven parliamentary seats previously allotted to Sulu to five other provinces, Cotabato City, and the Special Geographic Area (SGA) in BARMM, since Sulu is no longer part of the autonomous region. Macacua had urged the Comelec to implement BAA 77 in the October parliamentary elections, where the electorate would vote for 80 members of parliament. However, two petitions were filed before the high court questioning the legality and constitutionality of the act.

Macacua clarified that the issuance of the TRO does not invalidate BAA No. 77 but merely halts its enforcement pending the final resolution of the petitions. 'We are confident that through this legal process, we will be able to present our position and uphold the mandate entrusted to us under the Bangsamoro Organic Law,' he said.