FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORYNOTE 
The enactment into law of Presidential Decree No. 1083 or the Muslim Code of 
Personal Laws in 1977 and'the continuing enforcement of it in the present is a 
recognition of the existence within the Philippine State of a valid legal system, 
though limited in application to family laws and other closely related subjects, that 
is different from the predominant Philippine general laws. 
By doing so, the 
Philippines has demonstrated an inkling towards a pluralistic approach to laws of 
personal application. Shari'a courts were established in order to adjudicate and 
resolve legal disputes concerning personal laws peculiar to Muslim Filipinos. These 
courts were created in limited parts of Mindanao, where the majority of Muslim 
Filipinos were traditionally found. 
But Muslim Filipinos are not confined in those places in Mindanao were Shari'a 
courts are in operation. They are now in other parts of Mindanao as well as in many 
parts of Luzon and Visayas where they engage in trading and in other aspects of 
community life and are constantly commingling with their fellow Filipinos. They are 
most notably present in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as 
well as in the other parts of Mindanao. They are also present in the Northern 
Luzon, Metro Manila, Southern Luzon and the Visayas in significant numbers. 
The presence of Muslim communities in parts of the country outside the jurisdiction 
of Shari'a courts has resulted in more cases and disputes susceptible of judicial 
resolution by such courts. But since the presence of Shari'a courts is limited only to 
certain parts of Mindanao, Muslim Filipinos located far from such courts have found 
very difficult, inconvenient, and troublesome the filing and resolution of legal cases. 
This bill seeks to strengthen the Shari'a District Court System by expanding it to 
cover the ARMM, the areas in Mindanao outside of the ARMM, Luzon and the 
Visayas. The creation of these Shari'a courts will serve as a window to the justice 
system for Muslim Filipinos outside the ambit of the existing Shari'a couqts thereby 
making it easier for them to go to courts of justice that could remedy their problems 
and reconcile disputes among them. 
In view of the foregoing the enactment of this bill into law is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
Second Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE SHARI'A DISTRICT COURT SYSTEM IN THE 
AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (ARMM) AND IN THE 
AREAS OUTSIDE THE SAID AUTONOMOUS REGION, AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1083 OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE MUSLIM CODE OF PERSONAL LAWS OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 138 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
Article 138. Shari'a Judicial Districts.- In the Autonomous 
Region in Muslim Mindanao, five (5) special judicial districts, 
each to have one Shari'a District Court presided over by one 
judge, a,re constituted as follows: 
(a) The first Shari'a District comprising the Province of Sulu; 
(b) The Second Shari'a District, the province of Tawi-Tawi; 
(c) The Third Shari'a District, te Province of'Basilan and the City 
of Isabela; 
(d) The Fourth Shari'a district, the Province of Lanao del Sur and 
the City of Marawi; 
(e) The Fifth Shari's District, the Province of Maguindanao and 
the City of Cotabato. 


Article 138-A. Outside the Autonomous Region in Muslim 
Mindanao, six (6) soecial judicial districts, each to have one 
Shari’a District Court presided over by one judge, ae 
constituted as follows: 
(f) The Sixth Shari’a District, the rovince of Lanao del Norte and 
the City of Iligan; 
(g) The Seventh Shari’a District, the Province of North Cotabato, 
South Cotabato, and the City of General Santos; 
(h) The Eights Shari’a District, the Provinces of Zamboanga 
Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur, and the 
Cities of Dipolog, Pagadian, and Zamboanga; 
(i) The Ninth Shari’a district, the Metropolitan Manila Area and 
Southern Luzon; 
6) The Tenth Shari’a district, in Northern Luzon; 
(k) The Eleventh Shari’a District, in the Visayas. 
SECTION 2. Article 147 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
Article 147. Permanent stations; offices. - The Shari’a District 
Courts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao shall 
have their respective permanent stations in the following 
places: 
(a) First Shari’a District, in Jolo; 
(b) Second Shari’a District, in Bongao 
(c) Third Shari’a District, in Isabela City; 
(d) Fourth Shari’a District, in Marawi City; 
(e) Fifth Shari’a District, Cotabato City. 
Article 
147-a. The Shari’a District Courts outside the 
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao shall have their 
respective permanent stations in the following places: 
(f) Sixth Shari’a District, in Zamboanga City; 


(g) The Seventh Shari’a District, in General Santos City; 
(h) The Eight Shari’a District, in Zamboanga City; 
(i) The Ninth Shari’a District, in Metro Manila; 
(i) The Tenth Shari’a District, in Cebu City. 
Article 147-b. Provisions Common to Articles 147 and 147-a. - 
The Shari’a District Courts may hold sessions anywhere within 
their respective districts. 
SECTION 3. Article 150 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
Article 150. Shari’a Circuit Courts; where established. - 
Shari’a Circuit Courts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim 
Mindanao shall be established as follows: 
(a) Eight such courts in the Province of Sulu; 
(b) Eight in the Province of Tawi-Tawi; 
(c) Eight in the Province of Basilan and in the City of Isabela; 
(d)Eight in the Province of Lanao del Norte and the City of 
Marawi; 
(e) Eight in the Province of Maguindanao and the City of 
Cotabato. 
Article 150-a. Shari’a Circuit Courts outside the Autonomous 
Region in Muslim Mindanao shall be established as follows: 
(a) Eight in the Province of Lanao del Norte and the City of Iligan; 
(b) Eight in the Provinces of North Cotabato and South Cotabato 
and the City of General Santos; 
(c) Eight in the Provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboaga del 
Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and the Cities of dipolog, 
Pagadian, and Zamboanga. 
(d) Eight in the Metropolitan Manila Area and Southern Luzon; 
(e) Eight in Northern Luzon; 
(f) Eight in the Visayas. 


Article 150-b. provisions Common to Articles 150 and 150-a. - 
The territorial jurisdiction of each of the Shari'a Circuit Courts 
shall be fixed by the Supreme Court of the Philippines on the 
basis of geographical contiguity of the municipalities and cities 
concerned and their Muslim population. 
SECTION 4. Appropriations. - Such amounts as maybe necessary to 
establish the aforementioned Shari'a Districts as well as to reorganize 
and strengthen those which already exist shall be charged to the 
appropriations of the Supreme Court of the Philippines under the 
current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the amounts needed 
for their operation and maintenance shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of 
national circulation. 
Approved,