Islamic Da'wah Council of The Philippines, Inc. vs. Executive Secretary

Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines, Inc. vs.
Executive Secretary
G.R. No. 153888. July 9, 2003.
Facts:
Petitioner is a non-governmental organization that extends voluntary services to the Filipino people, especially
to Muslim Communities. Petitioner began to issue, for a fee, halal certifications to qualified products and food
manufacturers on account of the actual need to certify food products as halal and also due to halal food producers'
request. Subsequently, Executive Order (EO) 46 was issued creating the Philippine Halal Certification Scheme and
designating respondent Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) to oversee its implementation. In this petition for
prohibition, petitioner alleged, among others, that the subject EO violates the constitutional provision on the
separation of Church and State.
In granting the petition, the Supreme Court ruled that freedom of religion was accorded preferred status by the framers
of the fundamental law and it has consistently affirmed this preferred status. Without doubt, classifying a food product
as halal is a religious function because the standards used are drawn from the Qur'an and Islamic beliefs. By giving
the OMA the exclusive power to classify food products as halal, EO 46 encroached on the religious freedom of
Muslim organizations like herein petitioner to interpret for Filipino Muslims what food products are fit for Muslim
consumption. Also, by arrogating to itself the task of issuing halal certifications, the State has in effect forced Muslims
to accept its own interpretation of the Qur'an and Sunnah on halal food.
The Court further ruled that only the prevention of an immediate and grave danger to the security and welfare of the
community can justify the infringement of religious freedom. In the case at bar, the Court found no compelling
justification for the government to deprive Muslim organizations, like herein petitioner, of their religious right to
classify a product as halal, even on the premise that the health of Muslim Filipinos can be effectively protected by
assigning to OMA the exclusive power to issue halal certificates.
Issue:
Whether the OMA encroached upon the religious freedom of Muslim organizations to interpret what food
products are fit for Muslim consumption.
Held:
No. In granting the petition, the Supreme Court ruled that freedom of religion was accorded preferred status
by the framers of the fundamental law and it has consistently affirmed this preferred status. Without doubt, classifying
a food product as halal is a religious function because the standards used are drawn from the Qur'an and Islamic
beliefs. By giving the OMA the exclusive power to classify food products as halal, Executive Order 46 encroached
on the religious freedom of Muslim organizations like herein petitioner to interpret for Filipino Muslims what food
products are fit for Muslim consumption. Also, by arrogating to itself the task of issuing halal certifications, the State
has in effect forced Muslims to accept its own interpretation of the Qur'an and Sunnah on halal food.
The Court further ruled that only the prevention of an immediate and grave danger to the security and welfare of the
community can justify the infringement of religious freedom. In the case at bar, the Court found no compelling
justification for the government to deprive Muslim organizations, like herein petitioner, of their religious right to
classify a product as halal, even on the premise that the health of Muslim Filipinos can be effectively protected by
assigning to OMA the exclusive power to issue halal certificates.
Only the prevention of an immediate and grave danger to the security and welfare of the community can justify the
infringement of religious freedom. If the government fails to show the seriousness and immediacy of the threat, State
intrusion is constitutionally unacceptable. In a society with a democratic framework like ours, the State must
minimize its interference with the affairs of its citizens and instead allow them to exercise reasonable freedom of
personal and religious activity. In the case at bar, we find no compelling justification for the government to deprive
Muslim organizations, like herein petitioner, of their religious right to classify a product as halal, even on the premise
that the health of Muslim Filipinos can be effectively protected by assigning to OMA the exclusive power to issue
halal certifications. The protection and promotion of the Muslim Filipinos' right to health are already provided for in
existing laws and ministered to by government agencies charged with ensuring that food products released in the
market are fit for human consumption, properly labeled and safe. Unlike EO 46, these laws do not encroach on the
religious freedom of Muslims.

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