NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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iDffitp oi tiif
24 MAR 18 P5 37
RECEIVLD B'
SENATE
S. No. 2613
(In substitution of Senate Bill No. 2462, taking into considerati
House Bill No. 9045)
Prepared and submitted jointly by the Committees on Cultural Communities and 
Muslim Affairs; Justice and Human Rights; Civil Service, Government Reorganization 
and Professional Regulation; and Finance with Senators Padilla, Tolentino, Revilla, and 
Angara, as authors thereof
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SHARI'AH COURTS, AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9997, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MUSLIM FILIPINOS ACT OF 2009"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 9997 is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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SEC. 8. Powers and Functions. —lo accomplish its mandate, the 
Commission shall have the following powers and functions:
XXX
(p) Assist the [National Statistics Office (NSO)] PHILIPPINE 
STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA) in conducting census on the 
actual population of Muslim Filipinos in the country;
XXX


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(z) X X X
(AA) FACILITATE THE FILING OR SUBMISSION OF LEGAL 
DOCUMENTS FOR CASES FILED IN THE SHARI'AH 
COURTS;
^(aa)] (BB) Promulgate such rules and regulations and exercise 
such powers and functions as may be necessary to carry out the 
purposes and objectives outlined in this act; and 
[(bb)] (CC) Perform such other functions as may be necessary 
for its effective operations and continued enhancement as a 
government entity.
Sec. 2. Section 11 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
SEC. 11. Bureaus. — x x x
(g) Bureau of Legal Affairs. — The Legal Affairs Bureau shall be 
responsible for providing Muslim Filipinos with legal education and 
assistance in case of litigation involving their persons or interests; 
act as the legal counsel of the Commission; and investigate cases 
involving its personnel and submit appropriate recommendations 
pertaining thereto. The Bureau shall also investigate valid 
complaints brought before the Commission.
THE BUREAU OF LEGAL AFFAIRS SHALL ALSO ENSURE 
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SHARI'AH COURTS. IT SHALL, 
UPON REQUEST, FACILITATE THE FILING OR 
SUBMISSION OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER COURT 
SUBMISSIONS WITH THE PROPER SHARI'AH COURT FOR


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LITIGANTS WHO RESIDE IN A REGION WHERE THERE IS 
NO EXISTING SHARI AH COURT.
THE COMMISSION SHALL, IN COORDINATION WITH THE 
SUPREME COURT, ESTABLISH A MECHANISM FOR THE 
FILING OR SUBMISSION OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS WITHIN 
THE JURISDICTION OF THE SHARI AH CIRCUIT AND 
DISTRICT COURTS, INCLUDING THOSE PROVIDED 
UNDER TITLE VI, CHAPTER ONE OF PRESIDENTIAL 
DECREE NO. 1083, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CODE 
OF MUSLIM PERSONAL LAWS OF THE PHILIPPINES." THE
MECHANISM SHALL BE FACILITATED
AND
ADMINISTERED BY THE COMMISSION THROUGH THE
BUREAU OF LEGAL AFFAIRS.
THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL AND LEGAL OFFICERS 
NECESSARY FOR THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF 
THIS SUB-SECTION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE
COMMISSION.
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Sec. 3. A new section designated as Section 11-A is hereby inserted after
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Section 11 of the same Act to read as follows:
SEC. 11-A. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION FOR SHARI'AH 
COURT SERVICES. — THE COMMISSION AND THE
DEPARTMENT
OF
INFORMATION
AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (DICT) SHALL, IN 
COORDINATION WITH THE SUPREME COURT, CREATE A


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DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS PAPERLESS FILING 
OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER COURT SUBMISSIONS.
THE COMMISSION SHALL FACILITATE THE PAPERLESS 
FILING OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER COURT 
SUBMISSIONS. THE COMMISSION SHALL RESPECT THE 
RIGHT TO PRIVACY OF THE PARTIES CONCERNED AND 
SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETAIN ANY COPY OF THE
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DIGITAL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO HEREIN.
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Sec. 4. A new section designated as Section 17-A is hereby inserted after
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Section 17 of the same Act to read as follows:
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SEC. 17-A. STA TISTICAL DA TA ON MUSLIM FILIPINOS. —
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THE COMMISSION AND THE PSA SHALL COORDINATE ON
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THE PROPER COLLECTION OF STATISTICAL DATA FOR
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MUSLIM FILIPINOS IN THE NATIONAL, REGIONAL,
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PROVINCIAL, CITY, AND MUNICIPAL LEVELS. THE
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COMMISSION AND THE PSA SHALL PREPARE AN ANNUAL
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REPORT WHICH SHALL INCLUDE THE DATA ON MUSLIM
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BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS FOR THE YEAR
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BASED ON THE TRANSMITTED REGISTERED CIVIL
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REGISTRY DOCUMENTS FROM LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY
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OFFICES, SHARI'AH CIRCUIT REGISTRARS, AND THE
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PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SERVICE POSTS ABROAD.
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Sec. 5. A new section designated as Section 23-A is hereby inserted after
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Section 23 of the same Act to read as follows:


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SEC. 23-A, REPORTORIAL REQUIREMENTS. — THE
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SECRETARY SHALL SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE
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IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT TO THE PRESIDENT OF
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THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
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REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SENATE
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COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND MUSLIM
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AFFAIRS, AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE HOUSE
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COMMITTEE ON MUSLIM AFFAIRS.
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Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from
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the approval of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the Department of
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Budget and Management, Supreme Court of the Philippines, and the PSA shall
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promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this
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Act.
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. — All existing laws, executive orders, presidential
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decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
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Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,