Additional Shari’a judicial districts, circuit courts get Senate nod

PASSED. The Senate resumes work on Monday (April 29, 2024). Among various matters, it unanimously approved Senate Bill No. 2594 which seeks to create three more Shari’a Judicial Districts and 12 Shari’a Circuit Courts to exclusively deal with Islamic laws but excluding criminal cases. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – Senators unanimously approved on Monday Senate Bill (SB) No. 2594 which seeks to create three more Shari’a Judicial Districts and 12 Shari’a Circuit Courts in the country.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the measure is a product of his discussion with Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo during their dialogue with the officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in Cagayan de Oro City.

“For those people who are not aware, right now, the Shari’a courts are only in the BARMM region. Since we have a lot of brother Muslims all over the Philippines, this increase will now give them an opportunity to hear their cases where they reside, whether it is in Northern Luzon, Central Visayas, or in other areas of Mindanao,” Zubiri said.

Under Article 138 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines, there are five Shari’a Judicial Districts – in Sulu; Tawi-Tawi; Basilan with Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and the cities of Dipolog, Pagadian, and Zamboanga; Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur with cities of Iligan and Marawi; and Maguindanao with Cotabato province, Sultan Kudarat, and the city of Cotabato.

Each has one Shari’a District Court presided over by one judge.

If passed into law, SB 2594 will establish a 6th Shari’a Judicial District with five Shari’a Circuit Courts to cover the provinces of Bukidnon; Misamis Oriental; Misamis Occidental; Camiguin with the cities of Cagayan de Oro; and provinces within Regions XI and XIII.

The provinces within Regions VI, VII and VIII will be under the 7th Shari’a Judicial District with three Shari’a Circuit Courts; while the provinces within the Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions I, II, III, IV-A will be under the 8th Shari’a Judicial District with four Shari’a Circuit Courts including in the National Capital Region.

A 6th Shari’a District Court will also be created to be based in Davao City, another one in Cebu City as the 7th Shari’a District Court, and the 8th Shari’a District Court in the City of Manila.

“Muslim Filipinos are now one step closer to having better access to the specialized knowledge and expertise of Shari’a judges promoting fair and equal treatment of Muslims under the law, with the goal of promoting inclusive, impartial, speedy, and quality justice to all regardless of the people’s geographic location,” Senator Francis Tolentino, the measure’s sponsor, said.

Meanwhile, Senator Robinhood Padilla, who co-authored the measure, thanked his colleagues and the Supreme Court for their contribution in the drafting the measure.