PBBM signs law creating new Shari’a Judicial Districts, courts

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a new law creating three new Shari’a Judicial Districts and expanding Shari’a circuit courts from 51 to 63.

Republic Act (RA) No. 12018, signed August 12, 2024, amends Articles 138, 147, and 150 of Presidential Decree No. 1083.

The Shari’a judicial system used to have five districts: Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan with Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Dipolog, Pagadian, Zamboanga Cities; Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Iligan, Marawi Cities; Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City.

The new districts include the sixth, covering Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro City, and provinces in Regions XI and XIII; the seventh, encompassing Regions VI, VII, and VIII; and the eighth, which includes Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and Regions I, II, III, IV-A, V, and Mimaropa.

The 12 new circuit courts will be distributed as follows: five in the sixth district, three in the seventh, and four in the eighth. The law will take effect 15 days after publication.

In April, senators unanimously approved 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.

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Marcos signs law expanding Shari’ah judicial courts”