NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2462
of H!? 0v. 
■'}'
23 OCT-5 P12 52
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
PROVIDING THE MUSLIM FILIPINOS BETTER ACCESS TO SHARI'A COURTS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9997, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MUSLIM FILIPINOS ACT OF 
2009"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Over four decades ago, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. signed 
Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1083, otherwise known as the Code of Muslim Personal 
Laws, with the aim of providing effective administration and enforcement of Muslim 
customary and personal laws through the creation of Shari'a courts in Mindanao, 
among others.
While P.D. No. 1083 laid the foundation for the creation of these special courts, 
the fact still remains that Muslim Filipinos experience challenges in accessing this legal 
system. Stories of our brothers and sisters attest that this plight is oftentimes due to 
factors such as, but not limited to: scarcity of resources, limited knowledge in filing 
and submitting of legal documents, and lack of Shari'a courts outside Mindanao. 
Needless to say, these circumstances undermine our country's commitment to 
promoting fair and equal treatment to all of its citizens under the law.
In order to address this predicament, this measure is being filed to expand the 
powers and functions of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) by way 
of amending Republic Act No. 9997, otherwise known as the National Commission on 
Muslim Filipinos Act of 2009. Specifically, this bill allows the NCMF to provide legal 
assistance and services which includes the filing or submission of appropriate


documents with the proper Shari'a Court for Muslim Filipino litigants who are in a 
region without an existing Shari'a Court.
This measure also introduces provisions for the creation of a digital platform 
that allows the paperless filing of routine documents to and from Shari'a courts, as 
well as the collection of statistical data for Muslim Filipinos at the national, regional, 
provincial, city, and municipal levels.
To ensure that all citizens of this country are able to access an effective, 
efficient, and non-discriminatory legal system, the passage of this measure is earnestly 
sought.
RQBINHOOD PADILLA
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
23 OCT -5 P12 52
SENATE
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
PROVIDING THE MUSLIM FILIPINOS BETTER ACCESS TO SHARI'A 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 as follows: 
SEC. 8. Powers and Functions. —Jo 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;
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(z) X X X
(aa) [PromulgatG such rules and regulations and cxcrciSG such
powers and functions as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes and objectives outlined in this Act; and] PROVIDE 
SERVICES TO MUSLIM FILIPINOS BY FACILITATING THE 
FILING OR SUBMISSION OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS IN 
CONNECTION WITH THE CASES FILED BY MUSLIM


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FILIPINOS IN THE SHARI'A COURTS, AND CHARGE 
APPROPRIATE FEES FOR SUCH SERVICES;
(bb) [Perform such other functions os moy bo nGCCSSory for its
effective—operations—and—continued—enhancement—as—a
government-------PURSUE PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF MUSLIM 
FILIPINOS;
(CC) PROMULGATE SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AND 
EXERCISE SUCH POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE 
NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES AND 
OBJECTIVES OF THIS ACT; AND
(DD) 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 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 
THAT MUSLIM FILIPINOS HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO 
SHARI'A COURTS. THUS, IT MAY FACILITATE THE FILING 
OR SUBMISSION OF APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS WITH 
THE PROPER SHARI'A COURT FOR MUSLIM FILIPINO 
LITIGANTS WHO ARE IN A REGION WHERE THERE IS NO 
EXISTING SHARI'A COURT.
THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF PERSONNEL AND LEGAL 
OFFICERS FOR THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF


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THIS SECTION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE
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COMMISSION.
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THE COMMISSION SHALL, IN COORDINATION WITH THE
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SUPREME COURT, ESTABLISH A MECHANISM FOR THE
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FILING OR SUBMISSION OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS WITHIN
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THE JURISDICTION OF THE SHARI'A CIRCUIT AND
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DISTRICT COURTS, INCLUDING THOSE PROVIDED
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UNDER TITLE VI CHAPTER ONE OF PRESIDENTIAL
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DECREE NO. 1083, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CODE
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ON MUSLIM PERSONAL LAWS OF THE PHILIPPINES." THE
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MECHANISM MAY BE FACILITATED AND ADMINISTERED
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BY THE COMMISSION THROUGH THE BUREAU OF LEGAL
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AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO MUSLIM FILIPINOS
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WHO HAVE NO ACCESS TO SHARI'A COURTS IN THEIR
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REGION.
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THE MECHANISM SHALL CONSIDER THE PREVAILING
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RULES OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE SHARI'A COURT OF
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THE PLACE WHERE THE COURT IS LOCATED.
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A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE
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COMMISSION AND THE SUPREME COURT MAY BE
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ENTERED INTO FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
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PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION WHICH SHALL NOT BE
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CONSTRUED AS AN IMPEDIMENT ONJJ4E JURISDICTION
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OF THE COURTS.
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Sec. 3. A new section denominated as Section 11-A is hereby inserted after
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Section 11 of the same Act to read as follows:
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SEC. 11-A. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION FOR SHARI'A
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COURT SERVICES. — THE COMMISSION AND THE
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DEPARTMENT 
OF INFORMATION AND
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COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (DICT) SHALL, IN
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COORDINATION WITH THE SUPREME COURT, CREATE A
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DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS PAPERLESS FILING


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OF ROUTINE DOCUMENTS, SUCH AS MARRIAGE
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CERTIFICATE, BIRTH CERTIFICATE, DEATH CERTIFICATE
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AND THE COLLECTION OF APPROPRIATE COURT FEES
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FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED
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TO ENTER INTO PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO
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FACILITATE THE FILING OF DOCUMENTS AS PROVIDED
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IN THIS ACT.
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ANY INFORMATION OR DATA OBTAINED BY THE
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COMMISSION AND DICT THROUGH A DIGITAL
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PLATFORM ALLOWING PAPERLESS FILING FOR THE
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ABOVE DOCUMENTS SHALL BE TREATED WITH
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CONFIDENTIALITY AND THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY OF THE
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PARTIES SHALL BE OBSERVED.
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Sec. 4. A new section denominated 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 PSA AND THE COMMISSION SHALL COORDINATE ON
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THE COLLECTION OF STATISTICAL DATA FOR MUSLIM
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FILIPINOS IN THE NATIONAL, REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL,
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CITY, AND MUNICIPAL LEVELS. THE COMMISSION AND
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THE PSA SHALL PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE
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MUSLIM FILIPINO POPULATION. THE ANNUAL REPORT
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SHALL INCLUDE THE LATEST CENSUS OF POPULATION OF
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MUSLIM FILIPINOS, MUSLIM BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND
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DEATHS FOR THE YEAR.
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Sec. 5. A new section denominated 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 TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
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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 AN ANNUAL REPORT
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ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT.
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Sec. 6. Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, the Commission,
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in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management and the Supreme
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Court of the Philippines, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to
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implement the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 7. All existing laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules and
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regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed
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or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
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Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,