SC reschedules Shariah Bar exams

THE Supreme Court on Monday announced that it had rescheduled the conduct of the 2024 Shariah Bar Examinations (SBE) at a later date in observance of the holy month of Ramadan.

In an updated bulletin, the Office of the 2024 Shariah Bar Chairperson said the 2024 SBE has been moved to April 28 (Sunday) and May 2 (Thursday).

This year’s SBE was originally scheduled for February 25 (Sunday) and February 28 (Wednesday).

Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, the 2024 Shariah Bar Examinations chairman, said the SBE was also rescheduled “to allow the prospective examinees additional time to review and to prepare the application requirements.”

The filing of the online application started on Monday, January 29, and will end on March 18.

Singh said failure to submit the required documents within the prescribed period will result in the disqualification of the applicant from the 2024 SBE.

During the application process, the applicants are required to select their preferred local testing centers (LTC) through the website of Barista. However, the assignment of the applicant’s preferred LTC is subject to availability.

She said that applicants will be informed of their assigned LTC no later than April 2.

The SBE will be conducted at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City, and the Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City.

Applicants who opt to take the SBE in Arabic shall take the exams through pen and paper at UP.

Individuals must first pass the exam to become lawyers under the Shariah court system of the Philippines.

Shariah courts in the country are under the supervision of the Supreme Court. It has jurisdiction over the Muslim-majority Bangsamoro as well as other parts of Mindanao outside the autonomous region.

There are currently 51 circuit courts in Mindanao. Their scope is comparable to that of the regular court system’s city and municipal courts.

The Bangsamoro Organic Law has provisions for the creation of a Shariah High Court for the Bangsamoro region. If realized, the high court will have exclusive appellate jurisdiction over Shari’ah districts within the autonomous region.

There also have been proposals to establish Shariah courts outside Mindanao due to the growing Muslim population outside the region.

Sen. Robinhood Padilla has filed Senate Bill 2215 that seeks to establish additional courts to cover most of the country, including three district courts.

Under the proposal, most of Mindanao not already covered by existing Shariah courts will now be accommodated. Localities in Luzon and the Visayas will also now have Shari’ah courts.

The Supreme Court is also taking steps to strengthen the Shari’ah Justice System in the country.

It plans to constitute more Shariah courts to significantly improve access to justice for litigants in Shariah cases.