President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Executive Order No. 91, transferring the province of Sulu to the Zamboanga Peninsula, upholding the decision of the people of Sulu in the 2019 plebiscite where they chose not to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The order aims to ensure the smooth delivery of public services to the island province, which opted out of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. A technical working group has been formed to oversee the transition, determining budget realignment, staffing adjustments, and program transfers. The move comes after the Supreme Court finalized Sulu’s exit from the BARMM, and the Commission on Elections has announced that it will proceed with the BARMM polls for 73 seats, considering the seven seats previously allocated to Sulu as temporarily vacant. Despite the official removal of Sulu from its jurisdiction, the BARMM has stated that its doors remain open, with hopes for the province’s eventual return to the region, and has assured that public services for the people of Sulu will not be disrupted.
