SC OKs appointment of Shari'a consultant to JBC

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has approved Associate Justice Marvic Leonen's plea to appoint a Shari'a consultant for the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

"The Court Resolved to Approve in principle the appointment of a Shari'a consultant for the JBC and a Jurisconsult in Islamic Law," the high court said in a one-page en banc resolution.

The high court ordered Court Administrator Midas Marquez to submit a recommendation in 30 days.

Based on court records, Court of Appeals Associate Justices Japar Dimaampao and Hakim Abdulwahid are the only two Muslim justices in the country.

In his appeal to his fellow SC justices, Leonen stressed the importance of appointing a Muslim JBC consulstant and a jurisconsult in Islamic Law.

"I have been informed that despite the presence of so many qualified experts on Shari'a Law, the court still does not have a Shari'a consultant for the JBC nor a jurisconsult. May I respectfully suggest that the Secretariat of the JBC and the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) be tasked immediately to look into this matter," the letter said.

Leonen cited certain provisions of Republic Act 9054 relating to the appointment of a consultant by the Regional Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to the JBC and the enabling of the Jurisconsult.

He explained Article VIII of RA 9054 allows the President of the Philippines to "appoint a qualified person as a consultant to the [JBC] recommended by the Regional Governor in consultation with concerned sectors of the autonomous region."

The JBC already has two consultants including SC Senior Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Presbitero J. Velasco Jr.