SC Holds Historic Tripartite Summit on Shari’ah; Receives Support from Executive and Legislative Branches of Gov’t
March 08, 2023
Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Chairperson of the Supreme Court Committee on Access to Justice in Underserved Areas and of the Technical Working Group on Shari’ah, welcomes the 1st National Summit on Shari’ah participants on March 5, 2023 at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.
“Today, the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines—aware of our peoples’ histories, following our constitutional provisions, and with its collective desire for social justice and its passion for inclusivity—holds this first ever National Summit on the Shari’ah to continue to correct social injustice.”
Thus, said Senior Associate Justice (SAJ) Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Chairperson of the Supreme Court Committee on Access to Justice in Underserved Areas and of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Shari’ah, as he welcomed the more than 300 court officials, Shari’ah counselors, Shari’ah judges, legal professionals, and foreign delegates to the 1st National Shari’ah Summit, held from March 5 to March 6, 2023 at Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.
Speaking on the need to adjust the narrative of our histories to achieve true rule of law and justice, SAJ Leonen said: “Shari’ah, coupled with customs among the peoples of Bangsamoro, already established then a sophisticated civil and criminal laws, and a political infrastructure.”
SAJ Leonen also disclosed that the Summit would not be the last of the forums that Supreme Court will organize through its TWG on the Shari’ah, under the Committee on Access to Justice. “The five-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI) includes reforms on the Shari’ah as well as its rules of procedure. The National Summit is only an initial engagement to recall the contents of the Shari’ah, identify how else it could progress, its inter-relationship with other parts of the official national legal system, and, of course, its place in maintaining peace—always strongly based on justice.”
“This National Summit seeks to inspire. We have invited foreign experts to share how Shari’ah has contributed to the progress of other societies. We have also given space to all our local luminaries to share their experiences, and, of course, to give us hope,” said SAJ Leonen. He added that after the Summit, the Committee on Access to Justice will collate the results, hold focus group discussions in various parts of the country, sponsor visits to other jurisdictions, liaise with other departments of the government, make proposals to the Court En Banc, and give suggestions to the legislative and executive branches of the government.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, meanwhile, shared that through the SPJI, the Supreme Court’s plan of action to address institutional challenges and achieve efficiency, innovation, and access, the Supreme Court aspires for greater access to justice by the people through inclusivity.
“With an institutional review of the Shari’ah justice system, we hope to strengthen the foundations of Shari’ah in our national legal framework and achieve full adherence to the rule of law by all,” said the Chief Justice.
Chief Justice Gesmundo expressed that through the Summit, “we hope to strengthen the Shari’ah justice system anchored on the need to assess its institutional framework, including the internal capacities within broader historical, cultural, and ideological contexts as well as within the context of the current BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) governance framework.”
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Al Haj conveyed that the BARMM Government admires how the Supreme Court of the Philippines has, through the years, evolved and adapted to the current realities in the country.
Said Chief Minister Ebrahim: “The success of this tripartite occasion manifests the unwavering pledge of all branches of the Philippines to come and work together towards a better justice system in the Philippines.
He added that the initiatives of the Supreme Court on strengthening the Shari’ah justice system “are very timely, and they are aligned with our efforts in the Bangsamoro Government to map out the intricacies of the Bangsamoro justice system as envisioned in the Bangsamoro Organic Law.”
The heads of the other branches of the government also gave their respective messages of support for the tripartite Summit and its participants.
In a recorded video message, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. stated that he welcomes all dialogue pertaining to the incorporation of Shari’ah law in our national legal framework.
“This important milestone in our nation’s justice system underscores this administration’s thrust of strengthening the foundations of our judiciary framework, as well as keeping the commitment of our support in the spirit of the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” said President Marcos.
Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, author and sponsor of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, conveyed his support for the Summit in person. He emphasized: “Peace is our ultimate goal for the Bangsamoro people. Peace that will render guns powerless. Peace that will blossom into growth and development. A peace that will allow our people, most especially our children, to pursue their dreams without fear.”
Senator Zubiri said that he was grateful to the BARMM Government and the Supreme Court “for the efforts not just behind this Summit, but in building up our justice system here in the Bangsamoro Region.”
He also shared that he had a discussion earlier with Chief Justice Gesmundo and SAJ Leonen on the possible creation of Shari’ah courts not just in Mindanao, but all across the Philippines, for the Muslim community.
Also present during the first day of the Summit were Supreme Court Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, Justice Mario V. Lopez, Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr., and Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh.
Joining them were H.E. Miguel Utray Delgado, Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines; Department of National Defense Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr.; Secretary Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo, Jr., Special Assistant to the President; Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez; Representative Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong; Representative Margarita Ignacia B. Nograles; Acting Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Isidro L. Purisima; and Former Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto; Violeta Dominguez Acosta, Head of Cooperation of the Embassy of Spain to the Philippines; and Christoph Wagner, Head of Cooperation at European Union Delegation to the Philippines.
The Summit is organized by the Supreme Court in cooperation with its judicial education arm, the Philippine Judicial Academy, and in partnership with the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos; with support from the European Union through the SUBATRA and GOJUST II Programmes co-funded by Cooperación Espańola, and The Asia Foundation. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo speaks on the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, the Supreme Court’s plan of action to address institutional challenges and achieve efficiency, innovation, and access, during the first day of the 1st National Shari’ah Summit on March 5, 2023 at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Anisah Amanodin-Umpa, the first female Moro Justice of the CA, takes a selfie with Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, the second Moro to have been appointed to the Supreme Court, and other participants of the 1st National Shari’ah Summit at Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)