Legislative districts of Sulu


The legislative districts of Sulu are the representations of the province of Sulu in the various national legislatures of the Philippines. The province is currently represented in the lower house of the Congress of the Philippines through its [|first] and [|second] congressional districts.

History

Initially being excluded from representation in the lower house of the Philippine Legislature in 1907, the then-non-Christian-majority areas of the Philippines — which included the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, of which Sulu was part — were finally extended legislative representation with the passage of the Philippine Autonomy Act in 1916 by the United States Congress. The Revised Administrative Code enacted on March 10, 1917 further elaborated on the manner by which these areas would be represented. The non-Christian areas were to be collectively represented in the upper house's 12th senatorial district by two senators, both appointed by the Governor-General. Five assembly members, also appointed by the Governor-General, were to represent the seven component provinces of Department of Mindanao and SuluAgusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Lanao, Sulu and Zamboanga — in the lower house as a single at-large district.
These arrangements remained in place despite the abolition of the Department in 1920. It lasted until 1935, when each of the seven provinces was provided a single representative to the National Assembly of the Philippines, albeit the manner of election varying between provinces. Voters of the more Christianized provinces of Agusan, Bukidnon, Davao and Zamboanga could elect their representative through popular vote by virtue of Article VI, Section 1 of the 1935 Constitution. In the Muslim-dominated provinces of Cotabato, Lanao and Sulu, however, voter qualifications were more restrictive: the only persons allowed to vote for the province's representative were past and present municipal officials ; present senators, assembly representatives and 1935 Constitutional Convention delegates; provincial governors and members of provincial boards; and any persons currently residing in the concerned province who held any of the aforementioned positions in the past. This was the manner by which [|Sulu's representative] was elected in 1935.
The 1st National Assembly of the Philippines passed Commonwealth Act No. 44 on October 13, 1936 to finally give all qualified voters of Sulu the right to elect their [|own representatives] through popular vote. Voters began to elect their representatives in this manner beginning in 1938.
In the disruption caused by the Second World War, the Province of Sulu sent [|two delegates] to the National Assembly of the Japanese-sponsored Second Philippine Republic: one was the provincial governor, while the other was elected through a provincial assembly of KALIBAPI members during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Upon the restoration of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1945 the province retained its pre-war [|lone congressional district].
Sulu was represented in the Interim Batasang Pambansa as part of Region IX from 1978 to 1984. The province returned [|one representative, elected at large], to the Regular Batasang Pambansa in 1984.
Under the new Constitution which was proclaimed on February 11, 1987, the province was reapportioned into two congressional districts; each elected its member to the restored House of Representatives starting that same year.
Tawi-Tawi last formed part of its representation in 1972.

1st District

PeriodRepresentative
8th Congress
1987-1992
Abdusakur M. Tan
9th Congress
1992-1995
Bensaudi O. Tulawie
10th Congress
1995-1998
Bensaudi O. Tulawie
11th Congress
1998-2001
Hussin U. Amin
12th Congress
2001-2004
Hussin U. Amin
13th Congress
2004-2007
Hussin U. Amin
14th Congress
2007-2010
Yusop Jikiri
15th Congress
2010-2013
Habib T. Loong
16th Congress
2013-2016
Habib T. Loong
17th Congress
2016-2019
vacant
18th Congress
2019-2022
Samier A. Tan

Notes

2nd District

PeriodRepresentative
8th Congress
1987-1992
Arden S. Anni
9th Congress
1992-1995
Asani S. Tammang
10th Congress
1995-1998
Asani S. Tammang
11th Congress
1998-2001
Asani S. Tammang
12th Congress
2001-2004
Abdulmunir M. Arbison
13th Congress
2004-2007
Abdulmunir M. Arbison
14th Congress
2007-2010
Abdulmunir M. Arbison
15th Congress
2010-2013
Nur-Ana I. Sahidulla
16th Congress
2013-2016
Maryam N. Arbison
17th Congress
2016-2019
Abdulmunir M. Arbison
18th Congress
2019-2022
Abdulmunir M. Arbison

Lone District (defunct)

PeriodRepresentative
1st National Assembly
1935-1938
Ombra Amilbangsa
2nd National Assembly
1938-1941
Gulamu Rasul
1st Commonwealth Congress
1945
Ombra Amilbangsa
1st Congress
1946-1949
Ombra Amilbangsa
2nd Congress
1949-1953
Gulamu Rasul
2nd Congress
1949-1953
Ombra Amilbangsa
3rd Congress
1953-1957
Ombra Amilbangsa
4th Congress
1957-1961
Ombra Amilbangsa
5th Congress
1961-1965
Salih Ututalum
6th Congress
1965-1969
Salih Ututalum
6th Congress
1965-1969
Indanan Anni
7th Congress
1969-1972
Indanan Anni

Notes

At-Large (defunct)

1943–1944

PeriodRepresentatives
National Assembly
1943-1944
Gulamu Rasul
National Assembly
1943-1944
Ombra Amilbangsa

1984–1986