FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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First Regular Session 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PEILPPINES ) 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to declare the Special Shari’a Examinations given by the Supreme Court 
as a civil service examination and thus conferring the passers appropriate civil service 
eligibility, amending Republic Act 1080 entitled “An Act Declaring the Bar and Board 
Examinations As Civil Service Examinations.” 
When Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed PD 1083, otherwise hown as the 
Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines and the Supreme Court subsequently 
promulgated the complimenting Special Rules of Procedure for the Shari’a Courts (Ijra-at 
Al-Mahakim Al Shari‘a), the long struggle of the Filipino Muslims for recognition and 
acceptance of their customs and traditions as embodied in their personal laws has come 
into realization. 
To implement this law, the government through its proper agency, the Office on Muslim 
Affairs, in coordination with the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice, conducts 
Shari’a Institute Training for qualified Muslims and administers special Shari’a Bar 
Examinations to qualify those who will pass to practice the Muslim Law before the 
Special Shari’a Courts of the Philippines and to be appointed as judges of the Shari’a 
Courts created pursuant to the Muslim Code. To this date, there are 300 Shari’a Lawyers 
licensed to practice in Shari’a Courts. In 2003, the number of successful candidates of the 
Shari’a Bar Examinations equals the lowest number of passers recorded in 1987. 
However, the Shari’a Bar Examinations is not covered by Republic Act 1080 which was 
enacted on June 15, 1954. As such, the Special Shari’a Bar examinations does not fall 
within the ambit of the said law. Although passing the said examination is a requirement 
for an appointment to the Shari’a Courts, the Civil Service Commission does not consider 
this as civil service examination and passers are not conferred civil service eligibility 
appropriate to first and secondary level positions. 
In the light of the above, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
First Regular Session 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
DECLARING THE SPECIAL SHARI’A BAR EXAMINATION AS CTVIL 
SERVICE EXAMINATION AMENDING FOR TEE PURPOSE RA. 1080 
ENTITLED “AN ACT DECLARING THE BAR AND BOARD EXAMINATIONS 
AS CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled 
SECTION 1. The bar examinations including the Special Shari’a Bar 
Examination and the examination given by the various boards of examiners of the 
Government are declared as civil service examinations, and shall for purposes of 
appointment to positions in the classified service of the duties of which involve 
knowledge of the respective professions except positions requiring highly specialized 
knowledge not covered by the ordinary board examinations, be considered as equivalent 
to the first grade regular examinations given by the Bureau of Civil Service if the 
profession requires at least four (4) years of study in college and the person has practiced 
his professions for at least two years, and as equivalent to the second grade examination 
if the profession requires less than four years of college study. 
SEC. 2. The Commissioner of Civil Service shall be h i s h e d  by the Clerk of the 
Supreme Court and the Secretary of the Board of Examiners a list of all the successful 
candidates in the bar and board examinations, including the Special Shari’a Bar 
Examination, with their general averages and preference shall be given those obtaining 
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the highest ratings in making appointments, Provided, That for those who have already 
passed the corresponding bar and board examinations, including the Special Shari’a 
Examination, the eligibility shall be deemed to commence from the approval of the Act. 
SEC. 3. The commissioner of Civil Service shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 4. The benefits granted under this Act shall not prescribe the provisions of 
civil service law or regulations notwithstanding. 
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in any two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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