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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETnENTH CoNGREss
First Regular Session
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I_fl_t_IP_duced by Rep. M_ol.aund Khalid Q Dirraporo
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill aims to create a sixth (6th) Shari'a Judicial District, to be composed of one
(1) Shari'a District Court to be stationed at the City of Cebu.
In  1977, then President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Presidential Decree (PD)  1083,
otherwise known as the Code of Muslim Personal Laws. PD 1083 created Shari'a courts for
the  effective  administration  and  enforcement  of  the  Code  of  Muslim  Personal  Laws.
However, PD 1083 is 45 years old and has not been updated to accommodate the growing
Muslim population and migration, specifically from MiLndanao to other parts of the country.
The  National  Commission  on  Muslim  Filipinos  stated  that the  existing  number  of
Shari'a courts are not sufficient to efficiently handle and resolve disputes involving Muslim
personal laws. More Sharia courts are needed to be established in other parts of the country,
citing in  particular  Manila,  Baguio  City and  Cebu and  other  areas  where there are  large
Muslim population. Muslim Filipinos are forced to fly to Mindanao to avail of services of the
Shari'a Courts, thereby disenfranchising the poor and marginalized.
As  Shari'a  Courts  are  a  requirement  for  the  Muslim  Family  and  Personal  Laws
enshrined in Islam, this proposed house bill seeks to create a sixth Shari'a Judicial District to
address cases in the Province of Cebu. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is
earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRE SS
First Regular Session
HOusE BILL NO. in___0 7
Iaptng4peced by Rep. Mol.artcad ¥_halid Q Dif'naporo
AN ACT
CREATING A SHARI'A JUDICIAL DISTRICT IN THH CENTRAL VISAYAS REGION
AND CREATING THERHIN ONE (1) SHARI'A DISTRICT COURT TO BH STATIONED
IN  THE  CITY  OF  CEBU,  AND  THREE  (3)  SHARI'A  CIRCUIT  COURTS  T0  BE
STATIONED IN THE CITY OF MANDAUE, CITY 0F MACTAN AND THE CITY OF
TALlsAy,  AMnNDING  FOR  THE  puRposE  ARTlcLEs  138,  147,  ANI]  150  OF
pREsmENTIAL  DECREE  No.  1o83,  oTHERwlsH  KNowN  AS  THE  "CODE  oF
MUSLIM   PHRSONAL   LAWS   0F   THE   PHILI~PPINES,"    AS   AMENDHD,   AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it erracted by the Senate and House Of Represehiatives Of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Article 138 of presidential Decree No.1083, otherwise known as the "Code
of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines", is hereby amended to read as follows:
"ARTICLE 138. Shari'ajudicial districts. -[Five] SIX specialjudicial 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 ofsulu;
b.        The second shari'a District, the province ofTawi-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 ofLanao del Norte
and Lanao del Sur, and the Cities of lligan and Marawi; [and}
e.    The Fifth Shari'a District, the Provinces of Maguindanao, North
Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, and the City of Cotabato[.] ; AND


F.       THH     SIXTH     SHARI'A     DISTRICT,     CENTRAL
VISAYAS REGION"
SEC. 2. Article 147 of the same law is hereby amended to read 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 Disthct, Jolo, Sulu;
b.         Second shari'a District, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi;
c.         Third shari'a District, Zamboanga Gty;
d.         Fourth shari'a District, Marawi city;
e.         Fifth shari'a District, Cotabato city; "AND
(F) SIXTH SHARI'A DISTRICT, THE CITY 0F CEBU."
(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 the same law is hereby amended to read 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;
b.          Eight in the province of Tawi-Tawi;
c.          Ten  in and for the provinces  of Basilan, Zamboanga del
Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and the Cities of Dipolog, Pagadian,
and Zamboanga;
d.          Twelve  in and  for the  Provinces  of Lanao  del  Norte  and
Lanao de! Sur and the Gties of lligan and Marawi;
e.          Fifteen  in  and  for  the  Province  of Maguindanao,  North
Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat and the City of Cotabato[.] ; AND
(F)       THREE  FOR THE  CHNTRAL VISAYAN REGION,
T0 BE STATI0NHD IN THE CITY 0F MANDAUE, CITY
0F MACTAN AND THE CITY 0F TALISAY."
(2) The territorial jurisdiction of each of the Shari'a Circuit Courts
shall  be  fixed  by  the  Supreme  Court  on  the  basis  of  geographical
contiguity of the cities concerned and their Muslim population.
SEC. 4. 42proprJ.¢rl.our. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall include in the Court's
program the operationalization of the newly created Shari'a District Court in the City of Cebu
and the  Shari'a Circuit Courts  in the  City  of Mandaue,  City  of Mactan and Gty  of Talisay.
Thereafter, the funds necessary for the operation of the courts herein created shall be appropriated
in the General Appropriations Act.
SEC.  5.  Sep¢r¢bz.Jrty C7¢zlse.  Any portion or provision of this Act that may be declared
unconstitutional  or invalid  shall  not have the  effect  or nullifying other portions  or provisions
hereof.
SEC. 6. Repe¢/I."g C/a#se. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or modified accordingly.


SEC. 7. Ej7rcc#.tJrty. This Act shall take, effect fifteen ( 15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,