MANILA, Sept. 1 -- Civil society groups based in Lanao del Sur on Monday filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77 which they said unduly includes portions of Sulu.

The petitioners claimed that the challenged law redistricted municipalities in violation of existing laws, which require consultation as well as the requirement that areas to be redistricted "shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact and adjacent territorial jurisdictions."

Petitioners in the suit were former Moro Islamic Liberation Front Northwest Mindanao Command leader and member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament Abdullah Macapaar; chairperson of the Bangsamoro Development Authority Man...