President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act No. 12160, or the “Philippine Islamic Burial Act,” a measure that ensures the immediate and proper burial of deceased Muslims according to Islamic traditions.
Signed on April 11 and published in the Official Gazette on April 21, the law mandates that the State must uphold the Islamic practice of burying the dead as soon as possible—regardless of the availability of a death certificate.
“The State shall require that proper and immediate burial of the bodies of the dead Muslims must be observed in accordance with Islamic rites,” the law reads.
Under the law, those who perform the burial rites—or the next of kin—are given 14 days to report the death to the local health officer for verification and issuance of a death certificate. In areas where a health officer is not available, the report must be made to the Office of the Mayor.
Facilities such as hospitals, clinics, funeral homes, and prisons are required to release Muslim remains within 24 hours of death, even if hospital bills or other expenses remain unpaid. A promissory note may be issued in place of immediate payment.
Muslim cadavers must be respectfully covered in white cloth and placed in a cadaver bag or box prior to burial.
Those who fail to comply with the law—such as withholding the body—may face imprisonment of up to six months and fines ranging from ₱50,000 to ₱100,000.
Senator Robin Padilla, the principal sponsor of the measure, hailed its enactment as a long-overdue recognition of Muslim Filipinos’ religious customs. “This new law is a big development for our Muslim brethren. RA 12160 is a simple but meaningful law for us Muslims,” he said.
