PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has signed a measure into law creating three additional Shari’a Judicial Districts and 12 circuit courts across the country.
Last August 12, the President signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 12018 amending Articles 138, 147, and 150 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws and repealing provisions of Batas Pambansa 129 or the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 as amended by the Code of Muslim Personal Laws.
The Code of Muslim Personal Laws recognized the system of Filipino Muslim laws and codified the Muslim personal laws.
Under RA12018 law, the number of Shari’a District Courts was raised from five to eight.
The first district covers the provinces of Sulu while the second district covers Tawi-Tawi and the third district includes Basilan, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur and the cities of Dipolog, Pagadian and Zamboanga.
The fourth district included Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and the cities of Iligan and Marawi while Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City comprised the fifth district.
The new districts include sixth comprised of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Saranggani, South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands and Cagayan de Oro City; and seventh which include Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Tacloban City.
The eighth district includes Metro Manila, Baguio City, and the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.
The new law also raised the number of Shari’a circuit courts from 51 to 63 with the 12 new Shari’a circuit courts servicing the three Shari’a Judicial Districts Courts.
Funds needed to operationalize the new district and circuit courts will be sourced from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses under the General Appropriations Act.
The new law takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
MOVE WELCOMED
The Supreme Court yesterday welcomed the President’s signing of a law creating more Shari’ah judicial districts and circuit courts nationwide, saying it is consistent with the ongoing reforms in the judiciary it is implementing.
The High Court was referring to Republic Act 12018 signed by the President into law last August 12 creating three Shari’ah Judicial Districts and 12 Shari’ah circuit courts nationwide.
“This latest legislation from Congress, signed by the President, is consistent with ongoing judicial reforms set in the Court’s Strategic Plans for Judicial Innovation 2022-2027,” SC spokesperson Camille Sue Ting said in a press briefing.
“One of the SPJI’s target outcomes is access under which the Court seeks to strengthen the foundation of Shari’ah justice in the country,” she added.
Before the passage and signing of RA 12018, the country only had five Shari’ah judicial districts created under Presidential Decree No. 1083.
The first district covers Sulu, the second Tawi-Tawi, the third Basilan, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur, as well as Dipolog, Pagadian, and Zamboanga cities.
The fourth district covers Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, as well as Iligan and Marawi cities while the fifth includes Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City. — With Ashzel Hachero
