speedy justice
By attypulpol
@attypulpol (26)
Philippines
2 responses
@ryanphil01 (4182)
• Philippines
9 Nov 07
Our Philippines laws, specifically Republic Act No. 8493, also knowns as Speedy Trial Act, an act to ensure a speedy trial of all criminal cases before the Sandiganbayan, Regional Trial Court, Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court, and Municipal Ciruit Trial Court, appropriating funds therefore, and for other purposes, says in
"Sec. 6. Time limit for trial. — In criminal cases involving persons charged of a crime, except those subject to the Rules on Summary Procedure, or where the penalty prescribed by law does not exceed six (6) months imprisonment, or a fine of One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) or both, irrespective of other imposable penalties, the justice or judge shall, after consultation with the public prosecutor and the counsel for the accused, set the case for continuous trial on a weekly or other short-term trial calendar at the earliest possible time so as to ensure speedy trial. In no case shall the entire trial period exceed one hundred eighty (180) DAYS from the first day of trial, except as otherwise authorized by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court pursuant to Sec. 3, Rule 22 of the Rules of Court.
Source: http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno8493.htm
Likewise, heinous crimes are given top priority to be resolved first by the judge.
@attypulpol (26)
• Philippines
10 Nov 07
I am also from the Philippines. The "time limit" that you just cited is actually not being followed by most Philippine courts for being impractical and unrealistic. Court dockets are usually clogged with so many cases, majority of which, unfortunately, are robberies involving cellphones. Courts usually give priorities to criminal cases with a detention prisoners (those who cannot afford to post bail for their provisional liberty). Those accused who are out on bail may have the scheduling of their next trials/hearing after a month, depending on the availability of counsels.
With the present condition affecting Philippine courts, i.e. numbers of cases, lack of computers and basic office equipments, lack of manpower, etc., a litigant would be considered lucky having finish his case in ONE year time.
