The measure seeking to recognize the rights of Muslims to bury their departed ones in accordance with their beliefs and tradition is now up for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s signature, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said. 

Escudero said this after the House of Representatives agreed to adopt the amendments on House Bill No. 8925 or the proposed Philippine Islamic Burial Act. 

House lawmakers have agreed to adopt the amendments put forward by the senators. 

“Our Muslim brothers and sisters have long been waiting for this law that will guarantee their loved ones are buried shortly after their death,” Escudero said.

“There should be no more questions about the protocols to be followed when it comes to the burial of Muslims anywhere in the country,” he stressed.

House Bill No. 8925 allows the immediate burial of Muslims who passed on sans death certificates, provided that the person who performs the Islamic burial rites or the next of kin of the deceased reports the death to the local health officer within 14 days after the burial. 

Under the bill, the remains of the deceased must be released within 24 hours—in accordance with the Islamic rites—from the hospital, whether bills and other costs related to the handling of the body have been settled or not. 

The Senate has approved a similar measure on third and final reading. Senate Bill No. 1273, or the Equal Access to Public Cemeteries, Escudero said.

SB No. 1273 ensures equal access to public cemeteries regardless of denominations and designates burial grounds in public cemeteries across the country for Muslims, indigenous peoples (IPs) and other denominations to allow them to observe their customs and traditions in burying their dearly departed ones.

In cases where the public cemeteries do not meet the requirements under the bill, the host local government units (LGUs) will be tasked to acquire land, including those outside its jurisdiction, in order to construct public cemeteries that are compliant to the provisions on apportionment and partition.

“Binibigyan natin ng halaga ang mga paniniwala at tradisyon ng ating mga kapatid na Muslim, mga IPs at iba pang relihiyon sa paglilibing ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay (We value the beliefs and traditions of our Muslim brothers, IPs and other religions in burying their loved ones),” he said.

“In policy planning and in the delivery of services to our people, we must ensure that no group or sector is neglected,” Escudero stressed.