31/07/2026
IBP Cotabato P.R.O. Facilitates FGD on Shari'ah Practitionersβ Code of Ethics; Justice Dimaampao Delivers Surprise Address
MANILA β In a major effort to elevate ethical standards and professional conduct within the Shari'ah legal system, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cotabato Chapter actively contributed to the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Development of the Proposed Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Shari'ah Counselors-at-Law, held on July 30, 2026, at the 2nd Division Conference Room, Supreme Court of the Philippines.
The high-level consultation was conducted jointly by the Supreme Court of the Philippines TWG on Shariβah and the Bangsamoro Attorney Generalβs Office (BAGO). Atty. Zeny-Linda Nandu, who serves as the Public Relations Officer of the IBP Cotabato Chapter, led the FGD Proper as its facilitator.
The event brought together key institutional stakeholders. Among the participants was former IBP Cotabato Chapter President, Judge Ysnaira Ibrahim, alongside scholars and legal experts from the University of the Philippines Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS). Also actively contributing to the deliberations were representatives from the IBP Committee on Bar Discipline, the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) Bar Discipline Division, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), and the Offices of Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, as well as stakeholders from the private sector.
The program opened with a presentation on the salient features of the proposed Code by Atty. Mohamad Rayyan M. Domado, Attorney IV of BAGO. This was followed by a session on comparative legal research and regulatory frameworks presented by Aleem Hisham Masacal, Technical and Policy Consultant for BAGO. Guided by Atty. Nandu, the participants engaged in constructive dialogue to refine the ethical standards that will govern Shari'ah practitioners nationwide.
The highlight of the gathering occurred near the close of the FGD with a surprise visit from Supreme Court Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao. Addressing the participants, Justice Dimaampao shared an insight from a previous interview regarding the significance and impact of Shari'ah on the Philippine legal framework, expressing his belief that Allah inspired his perspective.
He noted that the daily impact of the Shari'ah justice system on the country's legal order is both striking and far-reaching. It is striking because it institutionalizes diversity within unity, and far-reaching because it reshapes access to justice, protects minority rights, and strengthens national harmony. Furthermore, Justice Dimaampao emphasized that the system stands as a model of how religious law can coexist alongside a secular legal order in a democratic state, encouraging participants to adopt this perspective whenever asked about the profound role of Shari'ah.
Through the facilitation of Atty. Nandu and the active participation of local leaders like Judge Ibrahim, the IBP Cotabato Chapter reaffirms its vital role in steering milestone legal reforms, strengthening Shari'ah practice, and maintaining strong partnerships with the High Tribunal, legal academia, and professional bodies.
