Rules and Regulations Governing

Registration of Acts and Events

Concerning Civil Status of Muslim
Filipinos

Republic of the Philippines

OFFICE OF THE CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL
National Statistics Office
Manila

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 1, SERIES

Pursuant to Section 2 of Act No. 3753, otherwise known as the Civil Registry Law of the Philippines, which took effect o
No. 157 (E.O. 157), Establishing a Civil Registration System for Muslim Filipinos, and Chapters 1 and 2, Title VI, Book I
Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines, which took effect on 4 February 1977, the following rules and regulati
compliance of all concerned.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Administrative Order No. 2, Series of 1993 (AO No. 2, S. 1993) is hereby revised to provide a more responsive civil regi

The head of the National Statistics Office is the Civil Registrar General (CRG). The City/Municipal Civil Registrar (C/MC
registrable acts and events occurring among the Muslims in cities and municipalities and is appointed by the Mayor in a
ARMM Local Government Code. For Muslim marriage, divorce, revocation of divorce and conversion to Islam, recording
Circuit Court hereinafter referred to as Circuit Registrar (Article 83, P. D. 1083). All judicial decrees and legal instrument
Court shall be registered in accordance with AO No. 1, S. 1993 and this Order.

Rule 1. Civil Registration System for Muslim Filipinos

Executive Order No. 157 issued on February 15, 1994 by the President of the Republic of the Philippines established th

Rule 2. Definition of Terms:

As used in these rules:

1. Muslim is a person who testifies to the oneness of GOD and the Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him

2. Muslim Personal Law includes all laws relating to personal status, marriage and divorce, matrimonial and family r
spouses as provided for in the Muslim Code (P.D. 1083).

3. Muslim Laws refer to all the ordinances and resolutions governing Muslims as found principally in the Qur'an and

4. Ada means customary law.

5. Circuit Registrar is the Clerk of the Shari'a Circuit Court acting in the performance of their function under Title VI,

6. District Registrar is the Clerk of the Court of the Shari'a District Court acting in the performance of their function u

7. Idda is the period of waiting prescribed for a woman whose marriage has been dissolved by death or by divorce th

8. Talaq is the repudiation of the wife by the husband.

9. Tafwid is the exercise by the wife of the delegated right to repudiate.

 10. Wali is the guardian in marriage.

11. Muslim Code refers to Presidential Decree No. 1083 (P.D. 1083).

Rule 3. Registrable Acts and Events Concerning Civil Status of Muslim Filipinos

The following acts and events concerning civil status of Muslim Filipinos shall be recorded in the appropriate civil registr

1. Acts and events enumerated under Rule 7 of AO No. 1, S. 1993 insofar as they are applicable to Muslim Filipinos;

2. Muslim marriages, divorces, revocation of divorces, conversion to Islam, and other registrable documents.

Rule 4. Registry Book

The Circuit Registrar shall keep and preserve in his office the following registry books:

1. Register of Muslim Marriages;

2. Register of Muslim Divorces;

3. Register of Revocation of Muslim Divorces;

4. Register of Conversion to Islam;

5. Register of Legal Instruments; and

6. Register of Court Decrees/Orders

Rule 5. Civil Registration Forms

1. Documents presented before the C/MCR for registration of vital events of Muslim Filipinos are the following:

 Accomplished Certificate of Live Birth and attachment

 Accomplished Certificate of Death and attachment

 Accomplished Certificate of Marriage with attachment if the marriage was performed in accordance with P.D. 10
was solemnized.

2. Documents presented before the District/Circuit Registrar are the following:

3.
4.
 Accomplished Certificate of Marriage and attachment

 Accomplished Certificate of Divorce

 Accomplished Certificate of Revocation of Divorce

 Accomplished Certificate of Conversion to Islam

Rule 6. Applicability

This Order shall apply in all cities and municipalities in the Philippines where acts and events concerning civil status of M
in a foreign country, the same shall be governed by Rule 10 of AO No. 1, S. 1993, and other applicable laws taking into
In addition, the duty of the C/MCR or the Circuit Registrar insofar as civil registration is concerned may be performed by
Establishment.

Rule 7. Registration of Births

Registration of births of Muslim Filipinos shall be governed by pertinent provisions of AO No. 1, S. 1993 and supplemen

1. Regardless of the period of intra-uterine life of the fetus when born alive, however briefly, the birth of the child shal

2. The first name of the father or the surname of either the father or the mother may be used as the child's last name
 3. Upon receipt of the Certificate of Live Birth or COLB (Municipal Form 102, revised January 1993), the C/MCR shal
therein is "Islam", the C/MCR shall accomplish Municipal Form 102 and require the informant to give the following
the Hijrah calendar and its equivalent in Gregorian calendar and the ethnic affiliation of parents.

4. Municipal Form No. 102 and the attachment shall be permanently kept together and shall constitute the record of b

Rule 8. Registration of Deaths

Registration of deaths of Muslim Filipinos shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of AO No. 1, S. 1993 and supple

1. In accordance with the Islamic law and jurisprudence, the dead body shall be buried as soon as possible even with
by the person who performed the burial rites (or by the nearest kin) within forty-eight (48) hours after the date of bu
In the absence of the health officer or his authorized representative, the death shall be reported to the Mayor or an
Secretary as the case may be, who shall certify as to the possible cause of death.

2. Upon receipt of the Certificate of Death (Municipal Form 103, revised January 1993), the C/MCR shall examine Ite
shall require the informant to accomplish or to give the following data in order to accomplish Municipal Form 103 A
birth, name of the person who performed the burial rites and the name of the surviving spouse(s).

3. Municipal Form No. 103 and the attachment shall be permanently kept together and shall constitute the record of d

Rule 9. Registration of Marriages

Registration of marriages among Muslim Filipinos shall be governed by the following rules:

1. Marriage (Nikha) among Muslim Filipinos is not only a civil contract but a social institution. Its nature, consequence
not subject to stipulations, except that the marriage settlements may, to a certain extent, fix the property relations o

2. Marriage among Muslim Filipinos performed under their customs, traditions, rites and practices shall be reported w
person, or in his default, by the parties to the marriage for registration, to the Circuit Registrar of the city or municip
no Shari'a Circuit Court, marriages among Muslim Filipinos shall be registered at the Local Civil Registry Office (LC
marriage is in accordance with P.D. 1083 both in the Certificate of Marriage and the Marriage Register.

3. The person officiating the marriage shall indicate in the Certificate of Marriage (Municipal Form 97, revised January
No. 1083, and fill up the attachment to the Certificate of Marriage with the following information: amount of mahr(do
stipulations. The Certificate of Marriage and the attachment shall be permanently kept together and shall constitute

4. The Certificate of Marriage shall be prepared in five (5) copies and shall be distributed by the Circuit Registrar, or b
contracting parties; second copy to the Civil Registrar General (CRG); third copy to the Circuit Registrar/C/MCR; th
the Shari'a Court; and the fifth copy to the solemnizing officer.

5. Other matters related to registration of marriages among Muslim Filipinos not covered by this Rule shall be govern
of 1993.

Rule 10. Registration of Divorces

Registration of divorces among Muslim Filipinos shall be governed by the following rules:

1. Divorce is the formal dissolution of the marriage bond in accordance with P.D. 1083 to be granted only after the ex
spouses. It may be effected by the following:

2. Repudiation of the wife by the husband (talaq);

 Vow of continence by the husband (ila);

 Injurious assimilation of the wife by the husband (zihar);

 Acts of imprecation (li'an);

 Redemption by the wife (khul);

 Exercise by the wife of the delegated right to repudiate (tafwid); or

 Judicial decree (faskh) (P.D. 1083).

 3. A divorce pronounced by the husband or by the wife in case of tafwid and such other forms of divorce shall not bec
first and second divorce (talaq) are revocable during the "idda" and the third is irrevocable. If the spouses fail to rec
contract of marriage. In case of the third divorce, they cannot anymore reconcile to each other unless the wife is m
after the expiration of the "idda," the former husband may remarry her.

4. Any Muslim husband who has pronounced a talaq shall, without delay, file with the Clerk of Court of the Shari'a Cir
the most accessible Shari'a Court, a written notice of such fact and the circumstances attendant thereto, after havin
be conclusive evidence that talaq has been pronounced and shall constitute the Certificate of Divorce. In case the
constitute the Certificate of Divorce.

5. All Certificates of Divorce or Court Decrees shall be registered in the Shari'a Circuit Court. TheShari'a Circuit Cour
copy of the Certificate of Divorce or Court Decree for annotation in the Certificate of Marriage and the Marriage Re
shall be submitted for registration within thirty (30) days after the date of divorce by the interested party.

6. The Circuit Registrar shall distribute the five (5) copies of the Certificate of Divorce or court decree of divorce as fo
to the OCRG; the fourth copy to the District Registrar; and the fifth copy for his file.

Rule 11. Registration of Revocation of Divorces

Registration of revocation of divorces among Muslim Filipinos shall be governed by the following rules:

1. Within seven (7) days after the revocation of a divorce by reconciliation (ruju), the husband shall, with the wife's wr
the Circuit Registrar of the city or municipality where the Certificate of Divorce or court decree of divorce was previ
in the Certificate of Divorce or court decree of divorce and the Marriage Register. Such revocation shall also be for
marriage was registered for proper annotation in the Certificate of Marriage and Marriage Register.

2. The five (5) copies of the sworn statement of the revocation of divorce, after registration, shall be distributed by the
to the wife; third copy to the OCRG; fourth copy to the Clerk of the Shari'a District Court; and the fifth copy for his f

Rule 12. Registration of Conversion to Islam

Registration of a person's conversion to Islam is prima facie proof that he professes the Islamic faith and thus becomes

1. A person who desires to embrace Islamic faith shall accomplish the Certificate of Conversion to Islam by providing
of birth and age, place of birth, occupation, residence, citizenship, parents and their respective religions. The certif
Muslim Filipinos. In case the convert is a minor, the consent of the parents, or the guardian is necessary.

2. In addition, the Convert shall submit a certification that he/she has undergone an orientation on basic principles an
Office on Muslim Affairs or from any recognized and competent Ustadz or Ulama. The Circuit Registrar shall requir

3. Four (4) copies of the Certificate of Conversion to Islam shall be submitted for registration within thirty (30) days aft
representative to theShari'a Circuit Court where conversion occurred. In the city or municipality where there is no S
reported by the same person to the LCRO of the place of conversion who shall forward the sam
domiciled under the procedures of out-of-town reporting.
In case the convert is not domiciled within the territorial jurisdiction of the five (5) Shari'a judicial districts, the regist
convert, in addition to the requirements under Rule 12 (1) and (2), certify under oath that he has not registered suc
annexed to the Certificate of Conversion and simultaneously filed therewith.

4. The four (4) copies of the Certificate of Conversion shall be distributed, after registration, by the Circuit Registrar a
copy to the District Registrar, and the fourth copy for his file.

Rule 13. Revocation of Conversion to Islam

After registration by the District Registrar, the court order of revocation of conversion to Islam shall be forwarded to the

The revocation shall be annotated to the Certificate of Conversion to Islam as follows:

1. "Conversion to Islam is hereby revoked pursuant to court order issued by (state the name of the district judge) of (state the nam
(state the case number) on (state the date of the order)".

The Circuit Registrar shall endorse to the OCRG a certified true copy of the court order of the revocation of conversion t
Conversion.
Rule 14. Miscellaneous and Transitory provisions

1. A Muslim foster child or those who have been under guardianship may use the surname of the foster parent or gua
execute an affidavit (Shahada) declaring that the child is under their care.

The Shahada shall be submitted to the C/MCR of the place of birth of the foster child, as a supporting document fo
surname shall also be annotated in the remarks portions of the COLB, that the surname being used is pursuant to
upon verification of the authenticity of all the documents submitted shall endorse the request and its supporting doc
mode of payment addressed to the OCRG.

2. Any Muslim Filipino who has performed Haj (Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and has acqu
annotation of his or her COLB. A Muslim Filipino who has acquired traditional title pursuant to Ada may likewise re

The request for annotation in the COLB for the use of the Haj name shall be submitted to the C/MCR of his/her pla
from OMA that he/she has performed Haj; certification from pilgrimage authorities that the new name acquired was
The request for annotation in the COLB for the recognition of traditional titles acquired pursuant to Ada shall be att
request, a Certification from OMA that the title was conferred in accordance with Ada shall be submitted to the C/M
title.

The C/MCR upon examining and verifying the authenticity of all the documents submitted shall then endorse the re
money order or in any other mode of payment addressed to the OCRG.

3. A married Muslim Filipino woman may use the surname of her husband or may retain her maiden name in all her p

4. Muslim marriages contracted anywhere in the Philippines before the effectivity of P.D. 1083 shall be registered with

5. Subsequent marriages entered into by a Muslim Filipino man though there was previous existing marriage can be
registration procedure of prior marriages. In addition, such marriage and its corresponding registration shall be sub

6. Insofar as applicable, the duties of the District and Circuit Registrar provided under P.D. 1083 shall form part of this

Rule 15. Penalty - Any person found violating this Order shall be liable under the existing civil registry laws, P.D. 1083

Rule 16. Repealing Clause - AO No. 2, S. 1993 and all other rules and regulations, orders, memoranda or circulars is
these rules and regulations are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Rule 17. Separability Clause- If any provision of this Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provi

Rule 18. Effectivity Clause - This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of gener

Approved this 20th day of June 2005.