The Supreme Court is conducting the last of its series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) on the Proposed Revised Rules of Procedure in Shari’ah Courts beginning today, January 20, until January 22, 2023 in Cotabato City.
Organized by the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Shari’ah of the Supreme Court Committee on Access to Justice in Underserved Areas, in partnership with the Suporta sa Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Attorney General’s Office (BAGO), the FGDs were first conducted on December 9 to 11, 2022 in Marawi City and on December 19 to 21, 2022 in Zamboanga City.
The FGDs were headed by Supreme Court Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao and Court of Appeals Associate Justice Anisah B. Amanodin-Umpa, co-Vice-Chairpersons of the TWG on Shari’ah. Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen is the Chairperson of the SC Committee on Access to Justice in Underserved Areas as well as of the TWG on Shari’ah.
BARMM Attorney General Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba provided an overview of the activity to the FGDs’ participants, composed primarily of Shari’ah court judges and counselors, Moro professionals, and members of the academe. Armed with their knowledge of Shari’ah and experiences from practice, the participants shared their observations and insights on the Proposed Revised Rules of Procedure in Shari’ah Courts, which was prepared by a team of experts led by Court of Appeals Associate Justice Anisab B. Amanoctin-Umpa. This
initiative aligns with the Supreme Court’s objective of strengthening the foundations of Shari ‘ah justice under its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 or SPJI.
Judge Macaundas M. Hadjirasul, Presiding Judge, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 8, Cebu City; Judge Jamel T. Mamutuk, Acting Presiding Judge, RTC, Branch 192, Marikina City; and Mindanao State University (MSU) College of Law Dean Norhabib Bin Suod S. Barodi also discussed the salient provisions in relation to Civil Procedure to Special Proceedings; Criminal Procedure, Summary Procedure, and Small Claims; and Evidence, respectively.
Shari’ah District Judge Rasad S. Laguindab, MSU Professors Dr. Jamel R. Cayamodin and Dr. Asnawi G. Ronsing, and SUBATRA Team Leader Atty. Gilbert
V. Sembrano also took part in the FGDs.
Once the inputs and comments from the FGDs are taken into consideration, the final draft of the Proposed Revised Rules of Procedure in Shari’ah Courts will be presented to the Supreme Court En Banc for its approval. The passage of this set of rules will update the Special Rules of Procedure Governing the Shari’a Courts (ljra-at al-Mahakim al-Shari‘a), which was approved on September 20, 1983.