Supreme Court declares Sulu’s exit from BARMM final and executory

DAVAO CITY  — The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld its September 2024 decision declaring the exclusion of Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), rendering the ruling final and executory.

In a statement released Tuesday, the SC confirmed its denial of motions for partial reconsideration filed by the BARMM government, the Office of the Solicitor General, and other parties.

“These motions sought to reverse the Court’s decision on September 9, 2024, which excluded the Province of Sulu from the BARMM. The decision is final and immediately executory. No further pleadings will be entertained,” the SC stated.

The high court reaffirmed the validity of Republic Act 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which established BARMM. It clarified, however, that the BOL does not create a separate state but ensures the autonomy of the region under the Philippine government.

Despite the law’s general ratification through a plebiscite, Sulu’s rejection of the BOL ultimately led to its exclusion.

The Bangsamoro Attorney General’s Office sought to intervene through two motions filed in October, aiming to overturn the SC ruling, but both attempts were dismissed.

The BOL, signed into law on July 27, 2018, replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the BARMM. A plebiscite held on January 21, 2019, encompassed ARMM, Isabela City in Basilan, and Cotabato City.

A second referendum on February 6, 2019, covered Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, and other areas petitioning for inclusion.

While the majority voted in favor of the law, Sulu rejected it. Nevertheless, the province was initially included in the BARMM, prompting Sulu’s leaders to file a legal petition challenging its inclusion.

With the Supreme Court’s final decision, Sulu is officially excluded from the BARMM, reshaping the region’s political structure and resolving the longstanding dispute.