Moro leader Amirah “Mek” Lidasan expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court’s decision on September 9 that excluded the Sulu province from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The court reasoned that the separation is a result of residents’ “no” vote to the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in 2019 that established the BARMM. Despite this vote, the province was still included in BARMM. The Supreme Court returned Sulu to the national government under Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula).

“This decision serves the interests of politicians and dynasties who benefit from weakening the Bangsamoro,” Lidasan said on September 10. “It also perpetuates national oppression and underscores the continuing struggle for genuine freedom and self-determination.”

She said that the exclusion of Sulu, its people and resources in the developed BARMM fractures the already fragile unity of the Moros, which is contrary to the spirit of the original proposal that propelled the formation of the Bangsamoro.

“The Bangsamoro identity is deeply rooted in the unity of the Moro people and their enduring struggle against national oppression, transcending legislative measures like the Philippine Constitution and the diluted BOL,” he said. “The BOL’s shortcomings, exemplified by Sulu’s exclusion (in BARMM), highlight the need for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to address the Bangsamoro people’s struggles.”

Other Moro leaders also called the decision a “big blow” to the unification of the region.

“The story of the brave warriors of Sulu is integral to the Bangsamoro narrative. Many heroes and mujahideen from the Moro National Liberation Front are from this province,” Basilan governor Mujiv Hataman said.

The decision was a response to a petition filed in 2019 by Abdusakur Tan Sr, then governor of Sulu. This was written by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen who was the former Philippine Government chief negotiator in its negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). But in April, Tan joined the BARMM Grand Coalition which is set to participate in the first BARMM elections next year. This coalition will challenge the United Bangsamoro Justice Party which is dominated by the MILF. Due to the decision, Sulu and its leaders can no longer participate in the BARMM elections.

Currently, BARRM covers only Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi