MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Nov.
13 (PIA) --- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor has
approved a legislation that establishes a regional religious authority in the
ARMM to help address contemporary issues and challenges faced by Filipino
Muslims.
Governor Mujiv Hataman signed into
law Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act (MMA) No. 323 or An Act Creating the Regional
Darul Ifta’of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The law
institutionalizes the Darul Ifta or the Islamic advisory council in the region.
ARMM’s Regional Legislative
Assembly House Speaker Datu Roonie Sinsuat, members of the region's legislative
assembly and some religious leaders (muftun) from different provinces of the
region attended the signing.
The RDI shall be primarily
responsible for the promulgation and issuance of legal opinions (fatwa)
pertaining to Muslim personal laws and jurisprudence pursuant to Article VIII,
Section 20 of Republic Act 9054 or the act strengthening and expanding the
organic act for the ARMM.
They will also advise and serve as
consultant to the regional government of the ARMM and the RLA on matters
pertaining to Islamic laws, jurisprudence and ecclesiastical matters and serve
as the “religious guide” of ARMM leaders, bureaucrats and professionals,
including those in the local government units.
Governor Hataman said they have
earmarked P5-million for the initial operation of the RDI from the unexpended
fund of the Office of the Regional Treasury (ORT) and its succeeding annual
budget will be provided for in the Local Appropriations Act.
He reiterated that the creation of
the RDI will help unite all the Bangsamoro in the region and will boost good
governance in the region.
For his part, Speaker Sinsuat
said, “This office will recognize rights and well-being of the Bangsamoro due
regard to their beliefs, customs, traditions and institutions, and further
ensures their contribution to the regional government’s goals and aspirations.”
The MMA 323 also calls for the
establishment of RDI provincial offices in each of the five component provinces
of the ARMM. The provincial office shall be headed by a Provincial Mufti who
shall be selected from among the resident Ulama in the particular province.
Dr. Aboulkhair Tarason, regional
grand mufti, said they will work, collaborate and cooperate with the
international, national, regional and local bodies on matters of mutual
interest and benefit, such as halal businesses, marriages, hajj (pilgrimage),
professional engagement, intellectual exchange and academic discourses.
(BPI/PIA-10)
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