SC stops closure of Mindanao university’s law school

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MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court issued on Tuesday a temporary restraining order (TRO) barring the Legal Education Board (LEB) from enforcing its resolutions prohibiting the Mindanao State University (MSU) College of Law from opening its law programs on its Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Maguindanao campuses while also revoking its accreditation and ordering its closure effective academic year 2025-2026.

In a press briefer, the high tribunal said the TRO was issued in response to separate petitions for certiorari filed by the MSU and a student, Abdul Rahman Ltiph Nasser.

The petitioners had questioned the LEB’s authority over the MSU College of Law under Republic Act No. 7662, or the Legal Education Reform Act of 1993.

READ: MSU: Board has no mandate to suspend Congress charter

The high court required LEB and MSU to file their respective memorandums of authorities on the effect of Article IX, Sec. 16 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law on the jurisdiction of the board over the university within a nonextendible period of 15 days from notice.

In September last year, MSU sought the intervention of the Supreme Court in its ongoing dispute with the LEB, which canceled its law programs on all campuses.

The university said it filed a petition through its Board of Regents challenging the constitutionality of the LEB and its regulatory authority over state-owned, chartered law schools.

Exemption from supervision

The school also sought a TRO and an injunction against LEB’s cease-and-desist and closure orders, arguing that MSU’s autonomy as a state-owned university exempts it from the board’s oversight.

“Despite persistent intrusive actions from LEB, MSU has remained resolute in its commitment to the continued operation of its College of Law,” the university said.

“The university’s legal action, sanctioned by its highest governing body, represents a significant challenge to LEB’s authority and a courageous defense of academic freedom,” it added.

In September 2024, the LEB issued a resolution revoking the accreditation of the MSU College of Law over its “continued rejection of the regulatory jurisdiction and supervisory authority of the LEB, and its refusal to be bound by the orders, policies, standards and guidelines on legal education.”

“Consequently, MSU is no longer included on the list of Legal Education Institutions in good standing and authorized to offer the basic law program in the country,” it added.

However, MSU argued that its College of Law is exempt from LEB’s coverage under Republic Act No. 7662, Section 12, which specifies that only schools under the supervision of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports at the time of RA 7662’s passage in 1993 fall within LEB’s jurisdiction.