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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos signs law to digitalize Shari'ah courts

Marcos signs law to digitalize Shari'ah courts

Published Sep 28, 2025 08:21 am  |  Updated Sep 28, 2025 01:47 pm
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President Marcos has signed into law a measure seeking to improve access to Shari’ah courts for Filipino Muslims by introducing digital processes and strengthening legal support services.
Republic Act (RA) No. 12304, signed on Sept. 18, amends the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Act of 2009, or RA 9997.
The law mandates the NCMF and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in coordination with the Supreme Court, to create a digital platform for paperless filing of pleadings and other submissions.
“The Commission shall facilitate the paperless filing of pleadings and other court submissions. The Commission shall respect the right to privacy of the parties concerned and shall not retain any copy of the digital documents referred to herein,” the law states.

Digitalization and census

Through the new platform, litigants will be able to submit documents electronically to Shari’ah courts, reducing barriers to access for Muslims across the country.
RA 12304 also directs the NCMF to assist the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in conducting a census of the Filipino Muslim population at the national and local levels.
The NCMF and PSA must submit an annual report recording Muslim births, marriages, and deaths.

Strengthened legal support

The law expands the functions of the NCMF’s Legal Affairs Bureau, tasking it to provide Muslims with legal education and assistance in litigation involving their persons or interests.
The bureau is also authorized to act as NCMF’s legal counsel, investigate cases involving its personnel, and address valid complaints brought before the commission.
In areas without existing Shari’ah courts, the bureau will facilitate the filing of pleadings and other submissions with the proper tribunal.
The Philippines has eight Shari’ah Judicial Districts and 63 Shari’ah Circuit Courts, as of the signing of RA 12018 in August 2024.
Meanwhile, under the measure, the NCMF must submit an annual implementation report to the Senate President, House Speaker, and the chairs of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs and the House Committee on Muslim Affairs.

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President Marcos Bongbong Marcos new law Shari\'ah courts Filipino Muslims
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