PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act (RA) 12018, creating three more Shari'a judicial districts and 12 circuit courts across the country.
RA 12018, signed by Marcos on Aug. 12, amends Articles 138, 147, and 150 of Presidential Decree (PD) 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines.
By virtue of PD 1083, only five Shari'a judicial districts were created, with the first one covering the province of Sulu; the second in Tawi-Tawi; and the third one in Basilan, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur provinces and Dipolog, Pagadian and Zamboanga cities.
The fourth Shari’a judicial district is for Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur provinces and Iligan and Marawi cities, while the fifth district comprises Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat provinces and Cotabato City.
Under RA 12018, the newly-created sixth Shari’a district will cover Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao del Oriental, Davao Occidental, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur provinces and Cagayan de Oro City.
The seventh judicial district will be for the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar and Southern Leyte, as well as the city of Tacloban.
The eighth district will comprise Metro Manila, Baguio City, and the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, 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.
According to the new law, the permanent station of the sixth district will be in Davao City, the seventh district in Cebu City, and the eighth district in Manila City.
The concerned provinces, cities or municipalities are directed to provide the courts with adequate court office, supplies and equipment, in accordance with the provisions of the Judiciary Law.
RA 12018 also brings the number of Shari’a circuit courts from 51 to 63.
The 12 additional Shari’a circuit courts will service 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 Shari’a district.
The territorial jurisdiction of each of the Shari’a circuit courts will be fixed by the Supreme Court (SC) on the basis of geographical contiguity and accessibility of the municipalities and cities concerned and their Muslim population.
Based on the new law, the staffing pattern for each new Shari’a district court will be composed of 12 personnel, while each Shari’a circuit court will have nine personnel.
The SC Chief Justice is directed to immediately include in the court’s program the operationalization of the newly-created Shari’a judicial districts, district courts, and circuit courts.
The funds necessary for the implementation of the law will be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
RA 12018, which was made public on Thursday, takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. (Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)
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