Marcos signs Philippine Islamic Burial Act
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act 12160, also known as the Philippine Islamic Burial Act, which requires the proper and immediate burial of Filipino Muslims following Islamic traditions. — File photo from Presidential Communications Office
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act 12160, also known as the Philippine Islamic Burial Act, which requires the proper and immediate burial of Filipino Muslims following Islamic traditions.
It was signed on April 11 and posted on the Official Gazette’s website on Monday.
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Under the law, Muslim burials must be done as soon as possible, even without a death certificate.
However, the person who performed the burial or the deceased’s next of kin must report the death within 14 days to the local health officer, who will then issue the death certificate and determine the cause of death.
“For burial purposes, in accordance with Islamic rites, Muslim cadavers shall be released within 24 hours by the hospital, medical clinic, funeral parlor, morgue, custodial and prison facilities, or other similar facilities, or persons who are in actual care or custody of the cadaver,” it also read.
The body should be wrapped in white cloth and placed in an airtight, leak-proof bag or wooden box, then sealed with zippers, tape, or bandage strips.
The law also penalizes anyone who refuses to release a Muslim body, whether due to unpaid hospital or funeral fees or other unjustified reasons, with one to six months in jail, a fine of P50,000 to P100,000, or both.
“Within 120 days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health and the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act,” it also said.
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Muslim Sen. Robinhood Padilla, in a press release, welcomed the signing of the law.
“Napakalaking bagay ang bagong batas na ito para sa mga kapatid nating Muslim. Ang RA 12160 ay isang simple ngunit makabuluhang batas para sa kanila,” Padilla said.
(This new law is a big development for our Muslim brethren. RA 12160 is a simple but meaningful law for us Muslims.)
He sponsored House Bill 8925 in the Senate, which is a “sister bill” of his Senate Bill 1273.
Senate Bill 1273 seeks to ensure that Filipino Muslims and indigenous peoples have fair access to public cemeteries.
