NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
SENATE
2215
Senate
of t!j?
23 MAY 18 P3 53
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1083, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE "CODE OF MUSLIM PERSONAL LAWS OF THE PHILIPPINES", AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 17, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
recognize, respect, and protect the rights of indigenous cultural communities to 
preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions.
On 4 February 1977, President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Decree 
(P.D.) No. 1083, otherwise known as the Code of Muslim Personal Laws, which aims 
to recognize the legal system of the Muslims In the Philippines as part of the law of 
the land and seeks to make Islamic institutions more effective, codify Muslim 
Personal laws, and provide for an effective administration and enforcement of Muslim 
personal law among Muslims.
While P.D. No. 1083 establishes the creation of Shari'a courts, the growing 
number of Muslim Filipinos and the increasing rate of migration around the country 
calls for the need to establish additional judicial districts to attend to and resolve 
disputes involving Muslim personal laws.
In fact, the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine 
Statistics Authority reveals that Muslim Filipinos now reside in various parts of the 
country. Of the total population of Muslim Filipinos, 64.3% reside in the Bangsamoro 
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 10.1% in Region IX (Zamboanga 
Peninsula), 9.8% in Region XI (SOCCSKSARGEN), 6.1% in Region X (Northern


Mindanao), and 2.8% in Region XI (Davao Region). Outside of Mindanao, 6.4% of 
Muslim Filipinos reside in Luzon, with 2.5% in the National Capital Region (NCR), 
while 0.5% are In Visayas. As Muslim Filipinos continue to relocate across the country 
in search of better opportunities, the distribution of their population Is expected to 
increase significantly in the coming years.
This measure, therefore, aims to provide Muslim Filipinos residing outside of 
existing Shari'a Judicial Districts with accessible, equitable, and speedy justice. 
Specifically, this aims to establish additional Shari'a Judicial Districts, stations for the 
district courts, and circuit courts. This is to ensure that our Muslim brothers and sisters 
across the archipelago will have better access to the specialized knowledge and 
expertise of Shari'a judges, promoting fair and equal treatment of Muslims under the 
law, regardless of their geographic location.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
O^NHOOD PADILLA
/ Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 2215
cf tbe 'Ct-'T
23 MAY 18 P3 S3
•«l:C£iVFr 3V
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1083f OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE "CODE OF MUSLIM PERSONAL LAWS OF THE PHILIPPINES" AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Article 138 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 is hereby amended as
follows:
Article 138. Shari'a judicial districts. — [fwe] EIGHT special judicial 
districts, each to have one Shari'a District Court presided over by one 
judge, are constituted as follows:
(a) The First Shari'a District shall comprise the Province of Sulu;
(b) The Second Shari'a District, the Province of Tawi-Tawi;
(c) The Third Shari'a District, the Province of Basilan, Zamboanga 
del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and the Cities of Dipolog, 
Pagadian and Zamboanga;
(d) The Fourth Shari'a District, the provinces of Lanao del Norte 
and Lanao del Sur, and the Cities of Iligan and Marawl; [af^]
(e) The Fifth Shari'a District, the Provinces of Maguindanao, 
North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, and the City of 
Cotabato[7];
(f) THE SIXTH SHARI'A DISTRICT, THE PROVINCES OF 
BUKIDNON, MISAMIS ORIENTAL, MISAMIS


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OCCIDENTAL, CAMIGUIN, THE CITY OF CAGAYAN DE 
ORO, AND THE PROVINCES WITHIN REGIONS XI AND 
XIII;
(g) THE SEVENTH SHARI'A DISTRICT, THE PROVINCES 
WITHIN REGIONS VI, VII, VIII AND MIMAROPA; AND
(h) THE EIGHTH SHARI'A DISTRICT, THE PROVINCES 
WITHIN NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, CORDILLERA 
ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, REGIONS I, II, III, IV-A, 
AND V.
Sec. 2. Article 147 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 is hereby amended as
follows:
Article 147. Permanent stations; offices. — (1) The Shari'a District 
Courts shall have their respective permanent stations in the following 
places:
(a) First Shari'a District, Jolo, Sulu;
(b) Second Shari'a District, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi;
(c) Third Shari'a District, Zamboanga City;
(d) Fourth Shari'a District, Marawi City;
(e) Fifth Shari'a District, Cotabato City;
(f) SIXTH SHARI'A DISTRICT, DAVAO CITY;
(g) SEVENTH SHARI'A DISTRICT, CEBU CITY; AND
(h) EIGHTH SHARI'A DISTRICT, MANILA CITY.
(2) The Shari'a District Courts may hold sessions anywhere within 
their respective districts.
(3) The provinces, cities or municipalities concerned shall provide 
such courts with adequate court office, supplies and equipment in 
accordance with the provisions of the Judiciary Law.
Sec. 3. Article 150 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 is hereby amended as
follows:
Article 150. Where established. — (1) Shari'a Circuit Courts shall be 
established as follows:
(a) Six such courts in the Province of Sulu;


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(b) Eight in the Province of Tawi-Tawi;
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(c) Ten in and for the Provinces of Basilan, Zamboanga del
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Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and the Cities of Dipolog,
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Pagadian, and Zamboanga;
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(d) Twelve in and for the Provinces of Lanao del Norte and
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Lanao del Sur and the Cities of Iligan and Marawi;
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(e) Fifteen in and for the Province of Maguindanao, North
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Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat and the City of Cotabato[T];
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(f) FIVE IN AND FOR THE PROVINCES OF BUKIDNON,
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MISAMIS 
ORIENTAL, 
MISAMIS 
OCCIDENTAL,
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CAMIGUIN, THE CITY OF CAGAYAN DE ORO, AND
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THE PROVINCES WITHIN REGIONS XI AND XIII;
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(g) TWO IN AND FOR THE PROVINCES WITHIN
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REGIONS VI, VII, VIII AND MIMAROPA;
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(h) FOUR IN AND FOR THE PROVINCES WITHIN
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NATIONAL 
CAPITAL 
REGION, 
CORDILLERA
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ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, REGIONS I, II, III, IV-
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A, AND V.
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(2) The territorial jurisdiction of each of the Shari'a Circuit Courts
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shall be fixed by the Supreme Court on the basis of the geographical
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contiguity of the municipalities and cities concerned and their Muslim
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population.
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Sec. 4. Appropriations. — The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall
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immediately include in the Court's program the implementation of this Act. The funds
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necessary for the operation of the courts herein created shall be appropriated and
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released only upon the actual organization of the courts and the appointment of its
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personnel.
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Sec. 5. Separabiiity Cause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall
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remain in force and effect.


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Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this
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Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 7. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
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following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general
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circulation.
Approved,