THE SUPREME Court has issued a Temporary Restraining Order stopping the Legal Education Board  from enforcing resolutions that would bar the Mindanao State University College of Law from offering law programs at its Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Maguindanao campuses.

The SC en banc issued the order during its session on Tuesday (06 May 2025).

The LEB resolutions also sought to revoke the MSU College of Law’s accreditation and order its closure beginning Academic Year 2025–2026.

The TRO was issued in response to separate petitions for certiorari filed by MSU and Abdul Rahman Ltiph Nasser.

The petitioners questioned the LEB’s authority to regulate the MSU College of Law, citing Republic Act No. 7662, or the Legal Education Reform Act of 1993.

The High Court also required the LEB and MSU to file their respective memoranda of authorities on the effect of Article IX, Section 16 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law on LEB’s jurisdiction over MSU.

The parties were given a non-extendible period of 15 days from notice to comply.