The plenary hall of the House of Representatives. (黑料社 file photo)
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MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The House of Representatives has approved a bill that would amend Republic Act No. 9997 鈥� the law that created the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) 鈥� to ensure that more Muslim Filipinos get access to Shari鈥檃 courts.
House Bill (HB) No. 9045, or the proposed Act Providing the Muslim Filipinos Better Access to Shari鈥檃 Courts, was approved during Monday鈥檚 session as 251 lawmakers voted in the affirmative, zero in the negative, and zero abstentions.
听Under the proposed measure, Section 11(g) of R.A. No. 9997 which talks about the NCMF鈥檚 Bureau of Legal Affairs will be amended to include new provisions about the said office ensuring equal access to Shari鈥檃 Courts.
听鈥淭he Bureau of Legal Affairs shall also ensure that Muslim Filipinos have equitable access to Shari鈥檃 Courts. Thus, it may facilitate the filing or submission of appropriate documents with the proper Shari鈥檃 Court for Muslim Filipino Litigants who are in a Region where there is no Existing Shari鈥檃 Court,鈥� the bill stated.
听According to the bill, the NCMF, if the bill is enacted, will be tasked to coordinate with the Supreme Court (SC) in establishing a 鈥渕echanism for the filing or submission of legal documents within the Jurisdiction of The Shari鈥檃 Circuit and District Courts鈥�.
听Similarly, the NCMF and the Department of Information and Communications Technology are asked to coordinate with the Supreme Court in creating a digital platform to facilitate the paperless filing of Marriage Certificates, Birth Certificates, Death Certificates.
鈥淭he Commission is authorized to enter into Public-Private Partnerships to facilitate the filing of documents as provided in this Act [鈥 Any information or data obtained by the Commission and DICT through a Digital Platform allowing paperless filing for the above documents shall be treated with confidentiality and the right to privacy of the parties shall be observed,鈥� the bill read.
The justice system of Shari鈥檃 Courts was established by Presidential Decree No. 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws (CPML), to ensure that laws and the delivery of justice is in accordance with the Islamic faith.