Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. __ peas

Introduced by Hon. Cyrille “Beng” F. Abueg-Zaldivar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This House Bill was previously filed by Representative Frederick F.
Abueg as House Bill (H.B.) No. 4938 in the 16 Congress and H.B. No. 4762
during the 17 Congress. Both bills were referred to the House Committee on
Justice. This present bill is now a reiteration in toto of the previous legislative
measures, explained as follows:

“This bill seeks to create a sixth (6) Shari'a Judicial District comprising
the Province of Palawan and City of Puerto Princesa, composed of one Shari'a
District Court to be stationed at the City of Puerto Princesa and two Shari'a
Circuit Courts to be stationed at the municipalities of Taytay in Northern
Palawan and Brooke's Point in Southern Palawan.

The province is home to about 75,000 to 100,000 Filipino Muslims which
is approximately 7.5% of the total provincial population of 994,340 persons,
including the City of Puerto Princesa, according to the census conducted by the
National Statistics Office (NSO) in 2010. However, at present, it is estimated that
about one million people reside in Palawan. The main Muslim ethnic groups
found in Palawan which constitute said population are the Molbog, Jama
Mapun, Tausug, Pangutaran, Maranao, and Yakan.

Shari'a courts are created specifically for the effective administration and
enforcement of the Code of Muslim Personal Laws. Presidential Decree (P.D.)
No. 1083 created five (5) Shari'a Judicial Districts that are now located in Sulu,
‘Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga City, Marawi City, and Cotabato City. This proposed
measure seeks to add another Shari'a Judicial District to cover the Province of


Palawan and the City of Puerto Princesa.

Geographically speaking, the island province of Palawan is not attached
to the island of Mindanao where the presence of other Shari'a Judicial Districts
cater to the populace thereat. Yet many of our Muslim brothers and sisters who
reside in Palawan also need the judicial services of the Shari'a Courts. Traveling
from Palawan to places where there exist Shari'a Courts is both uneconomical
and impractical for the speedy disposition of cases as provided for in Section 16
of Article III of the 1987 Constitution, "All persons shall have the right to a
speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or
administrative bodies.”

The provision of one Shari'a District Court to be stationed at the City of
Puerto Princesa is beneficial to all our Muslim brothers and sisters, given that
Puerto Princesa City is at the heart of the province, geographically. It is within
reach by both North and South residents. Moreover, the two Shari'a Circuit
Courts to be stationed at the municipalities of Taytay in Northern Palawan and
Brooke's Point in Southern Palawan are enablers for a more effective and
efficient access to these courts.

Given that the Shari'a Courts embody the Islamic principle of justice
where no person is allowed to place the law in his or her own hands, the
approval of this bill is earnestly requested. ”

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[idan
(CYRILLE snanl¥ Sone zatpivan

Representative, 2.4 District Palawan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5883

Introduced by Hon. Cyrille “Beng” F. Abueg-Zaldivar

AN ACT
CREATING A SHARI'A JUDICIAL DISTRICT COMPRISING THE
PROVINCE OF PALAWAN AND THE CITY OF PUERTO PRINCESA,
FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 138, 147, AND 150
OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1083, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
CODE OF MUSLIM PERSONAL LAWS OF THE PHILIPPINES,” AS
AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1. There is hereby created a Sixth (6) Shari'a Judicial District
comprising the Province of Palawan and the City of Puerto Princesa, composed

of one Shari'a District Court to be stationed at the City of Puerto Princesa and

two Shari'a Circuit Courts to be stationed at the municipalities of Taytay and

Brooke's Point, Palawan.

SECTION 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the branch numbers of the
newly created Shari'a District Court and Shari'a Circuit Courts in the 6thShari'a
Judicial District

SECTION 3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination
with the Secretary of Justice, shall immediately include in the Court's program


ry

a

the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 4. The amount necessary for the effective implementation of
this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the Supreme Court.
Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 5. Articles 138, 147, and 150 of Presidential Decree (P.D.) No.
1083, otherwise known as the "Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the
Philippines," as amended, as well as other provisions that may be inconsistent
herewith, are hereby deemed repealed, modified, and/or further amended

accordingly.

SECTION 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,