Marcos signs law adding more Shari'a judicial districts, circuit courts
At A Glance
- The law, signed by the President on Aug. 12, amends Articles 138, 147, and 150 of Presidential Decree No. 1083.
President Marcos has signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 120181 creating three additional Shari'a Judicial Districts and 12 circuit courts across the country.

The law, signed by the President on Aug. 12, amends Articles 138, 147, and 150 of Presidential Decree No. 1083.
Previously, there were only five Shari'a judicial districts created under PD No. 1083:
- First District: Sulu
- Second District: Tawi-Tawi
- Third District: Basilan, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and the cities of Dipolog, Pagadian, and Zamboanga
- Fourth District: Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and the cities of Iligan and Marawi
- Fifth District: Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat ,and Cotabato City
Under RA the new law, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro City, and the provinces in Regions XI and XIII will be under the sixth district.
The seventh district covers the provinces within Regions VI, VII, and VIII; while the eighth district is for Metro Manila, and the provinces within the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, III, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and the Bicol Region.
The new law also brings the number of Shari’a circuit courts from 51 to 63. The new 12 Shari’a circuit courts will service the newly-created Shari'a Judicial Districts.
Five circuit courts will be situated in and for the sixth district, three in and for the seventh district, and four in the eighth Shari’a district.
The law shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.