Republic of the Philippines

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

10TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF SOLEMNIZING OFFICERS

“Pilipinong Rehistrado,
Matatag na Kinabukasan
ay Sigurado.”

The Registration of Marriage Contracted

Under Islamic Law

ATTY. MAQTAHAR L. MANULON, CESE

25 May 2017
 The Registration of Marriage Contracted Under Islamic Law 1
By: Atty. Maqtahar L. Manulon, CESE 2

I. Introduction

This paper focuses on procedure of registering marriage contracted under Islamic law or
Shari’a anywhere in the Philippines. For brevity, Muslim marriage is used elsewhere in
the discussion.

Official data showed that there are about 5 million Muslims in the Philippines as of May
1, 2010 or about five percent (5%) of the Philippine Population majority of whom are
found in Mindanao.
Related thereto, Shari’a
Census Philippine courts where Muslims
Census Muslim Non-Muslim
Reference Population register their marriage
Year (in million) (in million)
Date (in million) specifically under the
office of the district or
circuit registrar were
2010 1-May-10 92.34 5.13 86.86 likewise established in
Mindanao pursuant to
P.D. 1083. The law
Details may not add up to total due to concept.
defined Muslim as
Source: PSA
person who testifies to
the oneness of God
called Allah, the Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) and professes Islam.

Civil registration is a continuous, permanent and compulsory recording of civil status of

person and modification thereof (NSO-UNSIAP). Civil status includes marriage between
persons of opposite sex hence registration thereof conveniently proves the fact of
existence of such marriage among other purposes and further indicates good recording
of Filipino vital events pursuant to existing rules and regulations on civil registration.
Apart from gaining recognition under Philippine legal system, marriage contracted under
the Islamic law is covered by compulsory requirement of registration. Noting the
peculiarity of relevant Muslim vital events, a special rules of procedure applicable to
Muslims were promulgated by the Office of the Civil Registrar General (OCRG) more
than 2 decades ago under Administrative Order (AO) No. 2, series of 1993 but revised in
2005 as Administrative Order (AO) No. 1, series of 2005 otherwise known as Rules and
Regulations Governing Registration of Acts and Events Concerning Civil Status of
Muslim Filipinos.

Specifically, the rule governing registration of marriages herein referred was embodied in
Rule 9 of the above cited administrative order. The details of such registration is
supplemented by pertinent provisions of Administrative Order (AO) No. 1, series of 1993.

With the system in place, the inter-agency cooperation was expanded because of the
involvement of the Shari’a courts through the district or circuit clerks acting as registrar in
the registration of marriages, divorces, revocation of divorces and conversion to Islam as

1
Presented during the 10th National Convention of Solemnizing Officers held on 23-25 May 2017 at Lim
Ket Kai Atrium, Cagayan de Oro City
2
Regional Director, PSA-RSSO 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN)

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part of their administrative functions under the law. Notwithstanding the independence of
the judiciary to which Shari’a courts belong, the Civil Registrar General continued to
exercise technical supervision over the Shari’a registrars insofar as civil registration
matters are concerned.

Interestingly, after more than two

decades of implementation of the
special rule, PSA data covering the year
1999-2015 showed that there are about
50,000 marriages of Muslim Filipinos
registered and converted into digital file
and now stored in the PSA database. In
2010 the registration accounts for about
one percent (1%) of the marrying age of
Muslim population which is assumed to
be fifteen (15) years old for both male
and female.

Albeit low turnout, the system produced

results but certainly call for more actions from, efforts and advocacies by all concerned
to make the system yields more recording for Muslim Filipinos and eventually increase
the level of registration of marriages thus improving the country’s vital statistics.

II. Legal Bases and Coverage

There are number of laws, legal orders and issuances used as bases to register acts
and events of Muslim Filipinos such as:

a. Act No. 3753 of February 27, 1931 which is considered as the primary law on
civil registration. It officially established the recording of vital events in the
country. This law underwent several amendments to date;
b. Articles 407 - 413 (Title XVI, Civil Register) of the Civil Code of the Philippines
which took effect on August 30, 1950 providing for the list of acts and events that
are registrable before the civil registry offices;
c. P.D. 1083 of February 4, 1977 which contained provisions on civil registration
under Book II, Title VI allowing the clerk of Shari’a court to register Muslim
marriages, divorces, revocation of divorces and conversion to Islam

The issuance by the President of the Philippines on February 15, 1994 of Executive
Order (EO) No. 157, copy attached as ANNEX “A” titled establishing a civil registration
system for Muslim Filipinos paved the way for the institutionalization of herein system of
which cultural practices, customs and traditions relevant to civil registration were
integrated and considered in the formulation of rules and regulations embodied first
under A.O. 2, series of 1993 then later revised under A.O. 1, s. 2005.

It should however be stressed that the coverage of registration under the said order
begins with marriages celebrated starting on February 4, 1977 onwards. Marriages
contracted anywhere in the Philippines prior to this date shall be registered with
C/MCRO of the place where such marriage took place (Rule 14(4), AO 1, S. 2005)

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III. Concept and Definition

a. Muslim – a person who testifies to the oneness of God called Allah, the
Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) and professes Islam
a. Shari’a - refers to all the ordinances and regulations governing Muslims as
found principally in the Qur'an and the Hadith
b. Marriage - (Nikha) among Muslim Filipinos is not only a civil contract but a social
institution. Its nature, consequences and incidents are governed by P.D. 1083
and the Shari'a, and are not subject to stipulations, except that the marriage
settlements may, to a certain extent, fix the property relations of the spouses
(Article 14, P.D. No. 1083)

c. Circuit Registrar – is the clerk of the Shari’a Circuit Court acting in the
performance of their function under Title VI, Book II of P.D. 1083 and A.O. 1, s.
2005 (AO. 1, s. 2005)

d. District Registrar - is the clerk of the Shari’a District Court acting in the
performance of their function under Title VI, Book II of P.D. 1083 and A.O. 1, s.
2005 (A.O. 1, S. 2005)

IV. Functions of the Shari’a District and Circuit Registrar

Insofar as the civil registration is concerned, the Shari’a registrars shall perform the
following duties:

A. District Registrar. — The Clerk of Court of the Shari'a District Court shall, in
addition to his regular functions, act as District Registrar of Muslim Marriages,
Divorces, Revocations of Divorces, and Conversions within the territorial
jurisdiction of said court. The Clerk of Court of the Shari'a Circuit Court shall act
as Circuit Registrar of Muslim Marriages, Divorces, Revocations of Divorces, and
Conversions within his jurisdiction. (Art. 81, P.D. 1083).

B. Duties of District Registrar. — Every District Registrar shall exercise supervision

over Circuit Registrars in every Shari'a District. He shall, in addition to an entry
book, keep and bind copies of certificates of Marriage, Divorce, Revocation of
Divorce, and Conversion sent to him by the Circuit Registrars in separate general
registers. He shall send copies in accordance with Act. No. 3753, as amended, to
the office of the Civil Registrar-General. (Art. 82, P.D. 1083).

C. Duties of Circuit Registrar. — Every Circuit Registrar shall:

a. File every certificate of marriage (which shall specify the nature and amount
of the dower agreed upon,) divorce or revocation of divorce and conversion
and such other documents presented to him for registration;
b. Compile said certificates monthly, prepare and send any information
required of him by the District Registrar;
c. Register conversions involving Islam;
d. Issue certified transcripts or copies of any certificate or document registered
upon payment of the required fees;

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 e. Send to the District Registrar during the first ten days of each month a copy
of the entries made during the previous month;
f. Index the same for easy reference and identification in case any information
is required; and
g. Administer oaths free of charge for civil registry purposes. (Art. 83, 1083)

V. Registration Procedure

Registration of marriages among Muslim Filipinos shall be governed by the rules herein
presented. Within 30 days after the celebration of marriage the solemnizing officer shall
fill out the Municipal Form 97 (Certificate of Marriage), copy attached as ANNEX “B”.
This form was revised in 2007 along with birth and death certificate form MF No. 102
and MF No. 103 respectively and their corresponding attachments for Muslims. It is
necessary that the information shall be accurately and completely supplied with including
signature of husband, wife, solemnizing officer and witnesses before proceeding to the
concerned Shari’a registrar or civil registrar as the case may be.

If the registration is made beyond the reglementary period of 30 days, the concerned
registrar shall register the certificate of marriage and the attachment thereof under the
rules on delayed registration provided in A.O. 1, s. 1993 specifically Rule 13 in
conjunction with Rules 14 and 46.

It has been observed that there are instances when mass wedding or kasalan ng bayan
is conducted for Muslims. The purpose is laudable but the nature and character of such
wedding is not in accordance with Shari’a and ada or local customs and traditions. Such
wedding may fall under civil rites and not Islamic rites as contemplated under P.D. 1083.
Muslim males and females can never live together in the context of husband and wife
without the benefit of marriage under Islamic law. If the purpose of mass wedding is to
register the marriage of Muslims because they do not have one then the application of
rule on delayed registration would be preferred to new ceremony in a mass wedding. In
that case the originality of ceremony and date of marriage is preserved and the
consequence of such marriage is not adversely affected.

A. Who May Register

Under the law, the following officials have the power to register marriage certificate
presented before their offices within the time prescribed by the law, rules and
regulations.
a. District registrar within their territorial jurisdiction

b. Circuit registrar within their territorial jurisdiction

c. Civil registrar within the city or municipality which has no Shari’a courts

d. Consular officials of Philippine consulates in case of events happening

abroad but within the territorial jurisdiction of their office

The registration becomes ministerial on the part of the registrar when all the
requirements of registration are complied with otherwise the concerned registrar can
defer or put on hold such application for registration until all the requirements have been
met.

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One registration rule for one and same marriage certificate shall be upheld at all times to
avoid double or multiple registrations. The parties shall not hop before the offices of
registrars above. In case of any error in registration either on entry or jurisdiction the
same shall be dealt with according to existing laws, rules and regulations.

B. Place of Registration
Howbeit guided by the general rule of place of occurrence as place of registration, there
is little deviation for marriage entered in accordance with Shari’a along with divorce,
revocation of divorce and conversion to Islam. Under the rule ―Marriage among Muslim
Filipinos performed under their customs, traditions, rites and practices shall be reported
within thirty (30) days after the date of marriage by the officiating person, or in his
default, by the parties to the marriage for registration, to the Circuit Registrar of the city
or municipality where the Shari'a Circuit Court exists‖ (Rule 9(2), A.O. 1, s. 2005).

The first rule as far as place of registration is concerned is to go to the office of circuit
registrar which is located in area where Shari’a Circuit Court exists. Second rule is to
proceed to civil registry office in case Shari’a court does not exist which is explained
hereunder.

The determination of the number of city or municipality covered by one Shari’a circuit
court rests upon the order of the Supreme Court.

C. Registration in Areas Where There is No Shari’a Court

It is a common knowledge that Shari’a courts only exist in selected areas in Mindanao.
The areas covered by these courts are listed in Annex “C”. The rule says ―where there
is no Shari'a Circuit Court, marriages among Muslim Filipinos shall be registered at the
Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) where the marriage was celebrated with the
annotation that the marriage is in accordance with P.D. 1083 both in the Certificate of
Marriage and the Marriage Register‖ (Rule 9, A.O. 1, s,. 2005).

Data showed that only about fifteen percent (15%) of the country’s cities and
municipalities are served by the Shari’a court all clustered in western and central
Mindanao.

Despite the measly number of Shari’a registrars in the country, the same should not be a
hindrance to registration of Muslim marriages because the civil registrars are filling in the
gap and complementing the number of said registrar all over the country. Both officials
exercise authority to register marriages contracted under Islamic law in their area of
jurisdiction subject to the condition provided under the rule. It would simply mean that a
Muslim who contracts marriage anywhere in Luzon or Visayas need not send the copy of
certificate of their marriage to Shari’a courts in Mindanao for registration. The concerned
solemnizing officer (Imam, Ustadz, etc) or parties themselves shall register the
certificate before the C/MCRO where such marriage took place. The C/MCR however
shall annotate or put remark in both certificate of marriage and marriage register that the
same was performed in accordance with PD 1083. The putting of remark/annotation is
one distinguishing feature between registration in the Shari’a registrar’s office and
C/MCRO. It is important to remember that the solemnizing officer must be one of those
officials listed in the P.D. 1083 otherwise it may not qualify as Muslim marriage and
therefore falls within the regular registration under A.O. 1, s. 1993.

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D. Duty of the Solemnizing Officer

The rule says that the person officiating the marriage shall indicate in the Certificate of
Marriage (Municipal Form 97, revised January 2007) that said marriage was solemnized
in accordance with P.D No. 1083, and shall fill out the attachment to the Certificate of
Marriage with the following information needed: name of the contracting parties and their
corresponding signature; ethnic affiliation; date of marriage both in Gregorian and Hijrah
calendar; amount of mahr (dowry); first or subsequent marriage; tafwid, if granted and
such other stipulations. The Certificate of Marriage and the attachment shall be
permanently kept together and shall constitute the record of marriage. The requirement
of accomplishing attachment is mandatory without which the registration is not complete.
Along this line, the PSA-OCRG, the Shari’a and civil registrars should step up its effort to
require the solemnizing officers and the parties to comply with the rule on attachment as
there are many registrations reportedly not complying until today either due to
unavailability of form or lack of knowledge.

E. Form Used and Number of Copies Produced

Municipal Form No. 97, otherwise known as Certificate of Marriage underwent series of
revision the latest of which was done in 2007 but implemented in 2011 (MC 2010-05,
October 28, 2010) together with the half-sheet of paper attachment is the form used to
record all information about marriage among Muslims. The Certificate shall be prepared
in five (5) copies and shall be distributed by the Circuit Registrar, or by the C/MCR, as
the case may be to the following: first copy to the contracting parties; second copy to the
Civil Registrar General (CRG); third copy to the Circuit Registrar/C/MCR; the fourth copy
to the District Registrar if marriage was registered at the Shari'a Court; and the fifth copy
to the solemnizing officer. No other form shall be used in the Philippines except those
mentioned herein.

F. Applicability of Other Rules of Registration

Other matters related to registration of marriages among Muslim Filipinos not covered by
this A.O. 1, s. 2005 shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of Administrative Order
No. 1, Series of 1993.

VI. Concluding Remark and Recommendation

It is indubitable that Philippines has good legal system of civil registration. There are
number of statutes, circulars and court rulings that allow or compel registration, change,
correction and modification of vital events or documents to effect true identity or status of
person. There are institutions organized and responsible in implementing civil
registration laws nationwide. More importantly there is mandate from the State to provide
utmost protection to every Filipino where document is an essential part of this protection.

In order for the civil registration system to succeed with no one left behind and deliver
the mandate of the State to protect its citizen, there is a need to come up with sets of
indicators measuring success one of which is the level of completeness of registration by
class of events for special sector of society. Access to a more detailed and timely
statistical tables by type of registration, by geographical location, by year, etc. will help
stakeholders evaluate the effectiveness of the system. By and large, many gains had

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been achieved after two decades of implementation. With over fifty thousand (50,000)
Muslim marriages now in the archive of PSA, the system is working but more actions,
efforts and advocacies are needed in order to increase the level of registration of
marriages among Muslims. Revisiting the different policies including provisions of P.D.
1083 and PSA-OCRG strategic plans vis-a-vis levels of registration could be part of
everyone’s effort to improve the recording of the vital events. Furthermore, the OCRG in
coordination with Supreme Court shall look into the needs of the Shari’a registrars
including capacity building, compliance to instructions of Civil Registrar General and
monitoring of reports to ensure timely submission of documents to appropriate PSA
offices. High level of marriage registration will contribute to the PSA’s commitment of
delivering reliable and relevant statistics and civil registration services.

In addition, making registration to be part of the requirements for validity of marriage is a

good idea to explore since marriage license is already included in the formal requisites
of marriage under the Family Code. It will enhance probative value of the document,
improve accuracy of information and timeliness of registration as well as address under
reporting of marriage among Muslims.

Finally, the efforts of all concerned in the past 23 years of implementing the Muslim civil
registration system nationwide deserves recognition. Notwithstanding the weaknesses to
register vital events due to cultural practices, customs and traditions, the Muslims have
been complying with statutory requirements of documenting their events including
marriage as a result of policies and programs pursued by government. There is therefore
a need to sustain the gains and do more to attain not only 100 percent level of
registration but equally important the consistency, accuracy and the quality of
registration of Muslim marriages.

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 ANNEX “A”

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 157 February 15, 1994

ESTABLISHING A CIVIL REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR MUSLIM FILIPINOS

WHEREAS, civil registration is the systematic recording of act and events concerning
the civil status of persons;

WHEREAS, civil registration is meant for all Filipinos, regardless of political affiliation or
religious belief, and hence an effective tool of attaining national solidarity and unity that
can spur economic recovery and growth;

WHEREAS, Muslim Filipinos have yet to be assimilated into the system of civil
registration established on 27 February 1931 by Act No. 3753 because of their district
customs, practices and rites;

WHEREAS, this Administration has acknowledged with much concern the problems and
inconveniences encountered and experienced by Muslim Filipinos whose civil status has
remained undocumented;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the

powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the establishment of a system of civil
registration that considers the distinct customs, practices and rites of Muslim Filipinos,
and hereby order:

Sec. 1. The Civil Registrar General shall immediately implement the rules and
regulations governing the registration of acts and events concerning civil status of
Muslim Filipinos as provided in Administrative Order No. 2, Series of 1993;

Sec. 2. The Civil Registrar General shall collaborate with the officials of the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao, local government units, and other government agencies
and instrumentalities in the conduct of information dissemination, trainings, conferences,
and seminars of city/municipal civil registrars and other civil registration personnel.

Sec. 3. The Civil Registrar General is hereby authorized to exercise such powers and
perform such functions as may be necessary for the proper and effective implementation
and maintenance of the system of civil registration for Muslim Filipinos.

Sec. 4. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Order, the National
Statistics Office is hereby authorized to use its savings from the 1993 appropriations
and, in case of insufficiency thereof, the necessary amount shall be taken from the
savings of the Office of the President.

Sec. 5. This order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 15th day of February in the year of Our Lord, nineteen
hundred and ninety-four.

Source: https://www.chanrobles.com

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 ANNEX “B”

MUNICIPAL FORM 97 (Certificate of Marriage)

10
 ANNEX “B-1”

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE ATTACHMENT FORM

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 ANNEX “C”

List of Shari’a District and Circuit Courts

As of 28 May 2015
(Source:https://www.sc.judiciary.gov.ph)
(PSA Maguindanao Provincial Office)
PSA Basilan Provincial Office
Shari’a Circuit Court Bongao

District Courts Station District Registrar

1st District Jolo, Sulu

2nd District Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Zulufitra Baute
3rd District Zamboanga City Ali P. Guro
4th District Marawi City
5th District Cotabato City Narumbai D.
Dilangalen-Datukon

Shari’a Circuit Courts (SCC) under the 1st District

Branch Station/Coverage Area Circuit Registrar

1st SCC Jolo, Sulu

2nd SCC Siasi-Pandami-Tapul-Lugus, Sulu
3rd SCC Parang, Sulu
4th SCC Maimbung, Sulu
5th SCC Patikul, Sulu
6th SCC Luuk-Kalingalan Kaluang-Estino-Panamao,
Sulu

Shari’a Circuit Courts (SCC) under the 2nd District

Branch Station/Coverage Area Circuit Registrar

1st SCC Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Bofill A. Tuahan

2nd SCC (Unorganized)
3rd SCC (Unorganized)
4th SCC (Unorganized)
5th SCC (Unorganized)
6th SCC (Unorganized)
7th SCC (Unorganized)
8th SCC (Unorganized)

Shari’a Circuit Courts (SCC) under the 3rd District

Branch Station/Coverage Area Circuit Registrar

1st SCC Isabela City, Basilan Nazrullah L. Angsa

2nd SCC) Lamitan-Tipo-Tipo-Tuburan, Basilan
(Unorganized
3rd SCC Pagadian City (Vacant) Ampad P. Badting

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4th SCC Maluso-Lantawan-Sumisip (Unorganized)
5th SCC (Unorganized)
6th SCC (Unorganized)
7th SCC (Unorganized)
8th SCC (Unorganized)
9th SCC (Unorganized)
10th SCC (Unorganized)

Shari’a Circuit Courts (SCC) under the 4th District

Branch Station/Coverage Area Circuit Registrar

1st SCC Tubod-Kulambugan-Maigo, Lanao del

Norte
2nd SCC Marawi City-Saguiaran-Kapai, Lanao del
Sur
3rd SCC Baloi-Pantar-Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Sur
4th SCC Iligan City-Linamon-Kauswagan, Lanao del
Norte
5th SCC Kapatagan-Karomatan-Lala (Vacant),
Lanao del Norte
6th SCC Balindong-Marantao-Tugaya, Lanao del Sur
7th SCC Ganassi-Binidayan-Bagayawan-Calanogas-
Pualas-Madamba (Vacant), Lanao del Sur
8th SCC Malabang-Balabagan-Kapatagan (Vacant),
Lanao del Sur
9th SCC Lumbatan-Lumbayanague-Butig, Lanao del
Sur
10th SCC Tamparan-Taraka-Poona-Bayabao, Lanao
del Sur
11th SCC Molundo-Maguing-Buadiposo, Lanao del
Sur
12th SCC Wao-Bumbaran, Lanao del Sur

Shari’a Circuit Courts (SCC) under the 5th District

Branch Station/Coverage Area Circuit Registrar

1st SCC Cotabato City-Kabuntalan-Sultan Kudarat, Mohammad A.

Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao Abdulrahman
2nd SCC Datu Odin Sinsuat-Talayan-Talitay- Nashraida D.
Guindulungan, Maguindanao Dilangalen
3rd SCC Parang-Buldon-Barira-Matanog, Cawa S. Maulana
Maguindanao
4th SCC Datu Piang-Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Sakina E. Maulan
Maguindanao
5th SCC Shariff Aguak-Ampatuan-Datu Unsay-Datu Amiludin P. Hassan
Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao
6th SCC Buluan-Pandag, Mangudadatu-Paglat-Datu Suharto O. Amad
Paglas-Salipada K. Pendatun,
Maguindanao and Lutayan, Sultan Kudart

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7th SCC Upi-South Upi, Maguindanao Guinaid S. Paduman
8th SCC Tacurong City-Lambayong-President Mama B. Gani
Quirino, Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Sa
Barongis, Maguindanao
9th SCC Isulan–Esperanza-Bagumbayan-Senator Mashod A. Nangkong
Ninoy Aquino (Vacant), Sultan Kudarat
10th SCC Lebak- Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat Esmael A. Karon
11th SCC Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat MOntazir A. Solaiman
12th SCC Midsayap-Alamada-Libungan-Aleosan Salima M. Bayao
(Vacant), North Cotabato
13th SCC Pikit-Aleosan, North Cotabato and Bai Harissa D. Usman
Pagalungan-Datu Montawal, Maguindanao
14th SCC Kabacan-Carmen-Banisilan-Mlang- Rashid S. Rachman
Matalam, North Cotabato
15th SCC Kidapawan City-Makilala-Magpet-President Husain O. Usop
Roxas (Vacant), North Cotabato and
Columbio, Sultan Kudarat

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