The Save Bangsamoro Movement held a rally outside the Supreme Court on Monday, September 28, and reiterated its firm opposition to specific provisions of Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 86 (Photo Credit: Datu Toks Abdulrahman)
"No to gerrymandering": Group urges SC to nullify BAA 86
COTABATO CITY — The Save Bangsamoro Movement held a rally outside the Supreme Court on Monday, September 28, reiterating its firm opposition to specific provisions of Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 86, the legislation establishing the parliamentary districts of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In an official statement, Datu Toks Abdulrahman, spokesperson for the movement, urged the high tribunal to thoroughly scrutinize the law and the redistricting framework, highlighting key concerns over territorial composition and geographic contiguity.
A primary focus of the group’s petition is the 3rd Parliamentary District of Maguindanao del Norte, which comprises the municipalities of Northern Kabuntalan, Kabuntalan, and Talitay, alongside two barangays from Cotabato City and five barangays from Sultan Kudarat.
Abdulrahman questioned whether the layout of the district complies with legal standards regarding population density, compactness, adjacency, and geographic contiguity.
Similarly, the group called for a judicial review of the 2nd Parliamentary District of Lanao del Sur—covering the municipalities of Kapai, Marantao, Piagapo, and Saguiaran—arguing that Kapai’s geographical placement relative to the other constituent towns requires legal verification to ensure it aligns with standard districting criteria.
Calling on the Supreme Court to independently evaluate the territorial parameters and population metrics of the districts mapped out under BAA 86, the demonstrators rallied under the banner "No to gerrymandering," urging the tribunal to nullify the law on constitutional grounds.
Abdulrahman stressed that the petition seeks to guarantee a redistricting process that is lawful, ensures equitable political representation, and protects the integrity of the BARMM electoral framework.
In response to previous queries on the matter, the Bangsamoro Government maintained that the parliamentary districts were delineated in full compliance with criteria on population size, established political subdivisions, geographic contiguity, and accessibility.