Supreme Court holds 1st National Shari’ah Summit in Cagayan de Oro
The Supreme Court is currently holding the 1st National Shari’ah Summit in Cagayan de Oro City gathering over 300 participants nationwide, including Justices, judges, prosecutors, and lawyers from all branches of government. Also joining are Shari’ah counselors, Shari’ah judges, members of the academe, representatives of non- governmental organizations, as well as foreign delegates from countries which implement Shari’ah laws. The 2-day event held at Limketkai Luxe Hotel has the theme: “Forging the Role of Shari’ah in the National Legal Framework.” It is being streamed live via the Supreme Court’s YouTube channel.
As per press release by the Supreme Court Public Information Office, the Summit aims, among others, to be a venue for knowledge-sharing of ideas and the best practices involving Shari’ah and equip all participants with the basic principles of the Shari’ah justice system. Likewise, it will serve as a platform to address issues challenging the Philippine Shari’ah legal and judicial system and to explore opportunities on how to strengthen the support for Shari’ah justice in the country. Read more below.
Senior Associate Marvic M.V.F. Leonen delivers the welcome remarks at the ongoing 1st National Shari’ah Summit in Cagayan de Oro City. “The law that is responsive will definitely bring about peace, but always based on justice.” PHOTO BY PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURTCJ Gesmundo: Through the #1stShariahSummit, we hope to strengthen the Shari’ah justice system anchored on the need to assess its institutional framework…within broader historical, cultural, & ideological contexts as well as within the context of the BARMM governance framework. PHOTO BY PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURTChief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo speaks on the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), the Supreme Court’s plan of action to address institutional challenges and achieve efficiency, innovation, and access, during the first day of the #1stShariahSummit. PHOTO BY PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURTSenator Zubiri 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. #1stShariahSummit. PHOTO BY PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURTBARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Al Haj delivers his message of support at the first day of the #1stShariahSummit: “We admire how the Supreme Court of the Philippines has evolved and adapted to the current realities in the country through the years.” PHOTO BY PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURTChief Minister Ebrahim: The Court’s initiatives on strengthening the Shari’ah justice system are very timely, and they are aligned with our efforts in the Bangsamoro Gov’t to map out the intricacies of the Bangsamoro justice system as envisioned in the Bangsamoro Organic Law. PHOTO BY PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURTSenate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, author and sponsor of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, expressed his support for the #1stShariahSummit: “Peace is our ultimate goal for the Bangsamoro people.” PHOTO BY PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURTCourt of Appeals 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. #1stShariahSummit. PHOTO BY PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURTPHOTO BY PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT
The Summit is organized by the Supreme Court in cooperation with its judicial education arm, the PhilJA, in partnership with the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF); with support from the European Union through the SUBATRA and GOJUST2 Programmes co-funded by Cooperación Espańola, and The Asia Foundation.
