Shariff Kabunsuan

Infobox Philippine province
name = Shariff Kabunsuan
sealfile = Ph seal shariff kabunsuan.png region = Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
capital = Datu Odin Sinsuat
founded = October 28, 2006
pop2000 = 365,848
pop2000rank =
popden2000 =
popden2000rank =
areakm2 =
arearank =
hucities = 0
componentcities = 0
municipalities = 11
barangays = 209
districts = 1
languages = Iranon , Maguindanaon
governor = Datu Bimbo Sinsuat
locatormapfile = Ph locator map shariff kabunsuan.png

Shariff Kabunsuan was a province of the Philippines comprising the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201 provided for the creation of the new Province of Shariff Kabunsuan comprising the municipalities of Barira, Buldon, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Upi, all of the first legislative district of the mother province of Maguindanao. Cotabato City, which is independently governed and does not vote for provincial officials, belongs to neither Maguindanao nor Shariff Kabunsuan. However, for the purposes of congressional representation the said city is grouped with Shariff Kabunsuan, as per Section 5 of MMA Act No. 201. The province ceased to exist by virtue a Supreme Court decision issued on July 17, 2008.

At the time of its creation, Shariff Kabunsuan was the country’s 80th province and the sixth in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It is the first province not made by Congress, as it was made through invoking the powers of Republic Act No. 9054 or the Expanded ARMM law.

On October 29, 2006, the creation of the new province of Shariff Kabunsuan was ratified by the affirmative majority (285,372) votes cast in a plebiscite. Only 8,802 voted for its rejection.

On December 30, 2006, the creation of the new municipality of Northern Kabuntalan was ratified by the affirmative majority votes cast in a plebiscite.

On July 17, 2008, the Supreme Court, in Sema v. Comelec declared the creation of the province of Shariff Kabunsuan void and ruled that the power of ARMM’s legislature to create provinces and cities is unconstitutional. [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=125473 ABS-CBN News Online (Beta) ] ]

Political divisions

Shariff Kabunsuan was composed of 11 municipalities in two Sanggunian districts:

First District

econd District

History

The province was named after Shariff Mohammed Kabungsuwan, an Arab-Malay Islamic preacher who introduced Islam to central Mindanao in the 16th century.

Null and void creation

On July 16, 2008 the Supreme Court of the Philippines's 33-page judgment (8-6) penned by Antonio Carpio annulled "Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act 201", which created Shariff Kabunsuan (carved out of Maguindanao, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao). Justice Antonio Carpio's opined: “Only Congress can create provinces and cities because the creation of provinces and cities necessarily includes the creation of legislative districts. Creation of province or a city inherently involves the power to create a legislative district. The Constitution mandates that a province or a city with at least 250,000 inhabitants is entitled to at least one representative." The Court also declared unconstitutional the RLA’s power to create provinces and cities in the region but it did not pass upon the constitutionality of the creation of new municipalities and barangays. Under Republic Act No. 9140 or the Expanded ARMM Law, the RLA has the power to create new LGUs and to set its own criteria in creating, dividing, merging, or abolishing LGUs. [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=125379 abs-cbnnews.com, Supreme Court voids creation of Shariff Kabunsuan] ]

References

* [http://comelec.wordpress.com/files/2006/10/com_res_7727.pdf COMELEC Resolution No. 7727, Plebiscite to ratify the creation of the Province of Shariff Kabunsuan]
* [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=54747 ABS-CBN News - Maguindanao votes to create new province]
* [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=48125 ‘Mr shut up’ Dilangalen is back in the race]
* [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080126-115030/Sultan-Kudarat-town-aims-for-natl-recognition Inquirer.net, Sultan Kudarat town aims for nat’l recognition]

ee also

*Sema v. Comelec

References