Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 787)
The Moro Province covers the part of Mindanao and its adjacent islands west or south of a specified boundary line beginning at Point Balato on the north coast of Mindanao and including the Sulu Archipelago except certain islands, as detailed in Section 1 of the Act.
The Moro Province is divided into five districts: Sulu, Zamboanga, Lanao, Cottabato, and Davao, each with designated geographical boundaries as described in Section 2.
The capital of the Moro Province is Zamboanga. The capitals of the districts are Jolo (Sulu), Zamboanga (Zamboanga), Iligan (Lanao), Cottabato (Cottabato), and Davao (Davao), with the legislative council having discretion to change these capitals as per Section 3.
The Civil Governor of the Philippine Islands appoints the governor, attorney, secretary, treasurer, superintendent of schools, and engineer of the Moro Province with the consent of the Philippine Commission. Vacancies must be promptly reported, and any provincial officer may temporarily perform duties of a vacant office as stated in Section 4.
The provincial governor executes laws, supervises municipal police and Constabulary, may suspend or remove district officers for misconduct, reports to the Civil Governor, enforces court decrees, and appoints district officials with legislative council advice, among other duties outlined in Section 5.
The legislative council consists of the governor, secretary, treasurer, engineer, superintendent of schools, and attorney of the province, with the governor as presiding officer. It enacts laws for governance, revenue, education, local government organization, and other powers as detailed in Sections 12 and 13.
The council may codify, amend, and enforce customary laws of Moros and other non-Christian tribes consistent with U.S. laws and provide for local governments that respect tribal customs, as per Section 13(h) to (j).
District governors act as chief executives and sheriffs in their districts; they supervise municipalities, municipal police, prisons, and subordinate employees; hear and decide charges against municipal officers; inspect municipalities; and report to the provincial governor, according to Section 16.
These courts generally do not have jurisdiction over civil or criminal actions arising among Moros or non-Christians, except as provided by legislative council laws. However, they retain habeas corpus jurisdiction over all persons in the province, as provided in Section 27.
Contracts costing over $1,000 must be let to the lowest responsible bidder after public notice. The provincial treasurer must certify sufficient funds before a contract is entered into, and the provincial engineer supervises work and certifies payments as described in Sections 22 and 23.