Marcos OKs creation of more Shari'a judicial districts, circuit orders

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure creating three additional Shari'a judicial districts and 12 more circuit courts across the country.

Republic Act (RA) No. 120181 amended Articles 138, 147, and 150 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 or the “Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines,” as well as the relevant provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 or “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980.”

With the new law, three new Shari'a districts shall be established in the following areas:

• The provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Cagayan de Oro City;
• The provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, and Tacloban City; and
• The National Capital Region, Baguio City, and the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. 

Previously, there were only five Shari'a judicial districts created under PD No. 1083.

The first one is in Sulu; second in Tawi-Tawi; and the third one in the provinces of Basilan, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and cities of Dipolog, Pagadian, and Zamboanga. 

The fourth district is for Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Iligan and Marawi cities; while the fifth one is in Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City.

RA No. 120181 also brought the number of Shari’a circuit courts from 51 to 63. The 12 new ones will serve in the newly-created Shari'a judicial districts.

Five circuit courts will be situated in the sixth district, three in the seventh district, and four in the eighth district. 

The law was signed on August 12, 2024, and shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. —Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA Integrated News