Judge Edilwasif T. Baddiri, a distinguished Tausug jurist, has been appointed as an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, marking a historic moment for the Bangsamoro legal community.

Justice Baddiri, an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law and a Master in Public Administration graduate from Harvard University, brings with him decades of legal experience. He previously served as the Presiding Judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 115 in Pasay City.

His appointment makes him the fifth Tausug to serve in the Court of Appeals, following Justices Assali S. Isnani, Jainal D. Rasul, Omar U. Amin, and Hakim Abdulwahid. The milestone is a source of pride for the Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (ZAMBASULTA) region and the wider Bangsamoro community.

In July 2024, Baddiri was named interim president of the Philippine Muslim Judges Association (PMJA), an organization established to strengthen collaboration between judges of Shari’ah and regular courts. The PMJA also advocates for the integration of Shari’ah law into the national judicial system, with support from the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027.

Justice Baddiri also served as a commissioner for the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), where he played a key role in legal outreach efforts, including the launch of the Community Legal Education Program in 2010. The initiative aimed to educate Muslim communities about their rights and responsibilities under Philippine law.

He has likewise been active in civil society through his engagement with the Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN), where he has contributed to promoting ethical leadership, public service, and youth empowerment within the Bangsamoro.

“His elevation is a moment of pride not only for ZAMBASULTA but for the entire Bangsamoro, especially for the next generation of Muslim lawyers looking for inspiration,” Atty. Alman-Najar L. Namla said in a Facebook post.

He added, “Sir, your journey continues to remind us that excellence and faith can walk hand in hand. May Allah guide you always in the discharge of your noble duty.”

The Muslim Lawyers of ZAMBASULTA also issued a statement, saying:

“Justice Baddiri’s elevation is not just a personal achievement—it is a milestone for every Muslim lawyer who dreams of serving with integrity and distinction in the Philippine judiciary. His appointment affirms that our identity, our excellence, and our values have a rightful place in the halls of justice.”