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COTABATO CITY—In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling that excludes the Province of Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim has reaffirmed Wednesday, the Bangsamoro Government’s dedication to exploring all avenues to maintain the vision of a united Bangsamoro.
“We will carefully study the Supreme Court’s decision on Sulu’s exclusion with the commitment to explore all avenues to hold fast to the dream of a united Bangsamoro as well as ensure that the commitments enshrined in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro will be fully realized,” Ebrahim stressed.
“Sulu is not only an essential component of the Bangsamoro by virtue of law but also by its deep historical and cultural ties to the Bangsamoro identity and struggle. The Bangsamoro will never be the same without Sulu and its people,” Ebrahim added.
The Supreme Court’s decision, issued on September 9, declared Sulu as not part of BARMM due to the outcome of the 2019 plebiscite, where 54% of Sulu’s voters rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
While the court upheld the validity of Republic Act No. 11054, also known as the BOL, it ruled that Sulu’s exclusion was in accordance with the result of the plebiscite.
However, the Bangsamoro Government remains committed to inclusivity, understanding that the unity of the Bangsamoro people—historically and culturally—is vital to the region’s peace and progress.
“We remain hopeful that in time, the unity that binds the Bangsamoro people through history, struggle, and shared aspirations will prevail,” Ebrahim said.
BARMM was formed following the ratification of the BOL in 2019 to provide self-governance for the Bangsamoro people, honoring its distinct identity and pursuit of autonomy. (Aisah Abas/BIO)
