(2) These courts may also exercise exclusive jurisdiction over crimes committed by members of indigenous cultural communities where the imposable penalty as prescribed by the Revised Penal Code or other pertinent law does not exceed imprisonment of six (6) years or a fine not exceeding Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or both such imprisonment and fine and where the offended party or parties are also members of the indigenous cultural community concerned; and (3) The Regional Assembly shall define the composition and jurisdiction of the said courts in accordance with the Constitution, existing laws, and the Organic Act. SEC. 16. Customary Laws. - The Regional Assembly shall provide for the codification of indigenous laws and compilation of customary laws of the Muslims and the indigenous cultural communities in the autonomous region. SEC. 17. Application and Interpretation of Laws. – The provisions of the Muslim code and the tribal code shall be applicable only to Muslims and other members of indigenous cultural communities respectively and nothing herein shall be construed to operate to the prejudice of the non-Muslims and non- members of indigenous cultural communities. (1) In case of conflict between the Code of Muslim Personal Laws (PD 1083), on one hand, and the national law on the other, the former shall prevail; moreover, in case of conflict between tribal laws and the national law the latter shall prevail; (2) Except in cases of successional rights to property, the regular courts shall acquire jurisdiction over controversies involving real properties located outside the area of autonomy; (3) Muslims who sue other Muslims or members of indigenous cultural communities who sue other members of indigenous cultural communities over matters covered respectively by the Shari‟ah and by tribal laws may agree to litigate their grievances before the proper Shari‟ah or tribal court in the autonomous region. The procedure for this recourse to the Shari‟ah or tribal court shall be prescribed by the Supreme Court. TITLE IV REGIONAL COMMISSIONS AND OTHER BODIES Chapter 1 Civil Service Commission SECTION 1. Civil Service Commission. - The Autonomous Regional Government shall enact its own Civil Service Law and thereby create its Civil Service Commission/Office in ARMM consistent with Article IX (B) of the Constitution and the Organic Act. The Regional Civil Service Law shall govern the conduct of the ARMM civil servants, the qualifications for non-elective positions, and the protection of Civil Service eligibles in various government positions in the Autonomous Region. 17

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