A major victory for all Muslims.
This was how a grateful Senator Robin Padilla described the passage in the bicameral conference committee of a bill creating additional Sharia districts in the Philippines.
Padilla said this victory has a greater impact than the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) since Sharia law is a major part of the lives of all Muslims.
“Para sa amin, landmark ito.”
“Para sa amin, landmark ito … Maraming salamat po, di ko kayo makalimutan lahat, sa panahon namin nangyari,” the legislator said after the bill was tackled in the bicameral conference committee.
“Itong pangangailangan namin ng Sharia courts, ito ay isang bagay na parte ng buhay namin.”
“Itong pangangailangan namin ng Sharia courts, ito ay isang bagay na parte ng buhay namin. Ang Muslim kalahati ng aming pananampalataya may kinalaman sa pagsunod namin sa Sharia. Nandiyan nakapaloob ang pag-aasawa (at) trading… At hindi ‘yan mabubuhay ng walang Sharia,” the legislator added.
Also, Padilla thanked the lawmakers in the bicameral conference committee who helped in the passage of the measure, especially to Senate panel chairman Francis Tolentino, who he said fought for the bill’s passage.
He is one of the authors of Senate Bill 2594, which seeks to establish additional Sharia judicial districts.
“Hindi lahat na Muslim nakatira sa BARMM pero itong ginawa ninyo, maraming salamat, Tol. Pasensya na po, kailangan ko magpasalamat sa taong ito dahil pinaglaban niya ito. Maraming salamat Kapatid,” Padilla told Tolentino.
