Continuous Trial System

Sec.  2.  Continuous  trial  until  terminated;  postponements.  –  Trial once  commenced  shall  continue  from  day  to  day  as  far  as practicable until terminated. It may be postponed for a reasonable
period of time for good cause.
 
The court shall, after consultation with the prosecutor and defense counsel,  set  the  case  for  continuous  trail  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 Supreme Court.

The time limitations provided under this section and the preceding section  shall  not  apply  where  special  laws  or  circulars  of  the Supreme Court provide for a shorter period of trial.
 

WHAT  PROCEDURE  IS  USED  TO  AVAIL  HIS  RIGHT  TO  SPEEDY TRIAL?

> Continuous  trial  system—a  tool  for  the  early  and  expeditious disposition of a case
 

WHAT IS THE CONTINUOUS TRIAL SYSTEM?

> Trial  once  commenced  shall  continue  from  day  to  day  as  far  as practicable until terminated. 

> It  may  be  postponed  for  a  reasonable  period  of  time  for  good cause.

> The court shall, after consultation with the prosecutor and defense counsel,  set  the  case  for  continuous  trail  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 Supreme Court.
 

HOW DO YOU ENSURE CONTINUOUS TRIAL SYSTEM?

> There  must  be  a  time  limit  within  which  the  case  should  be terminated
 

WHAT  ARE  THE  DUTIES  OF  THE  PRESIDING  JUDGE  UNDER  THE CONTINUOUS TRIAL SYSTEM?

1.    Adhere faithfully to the session hours prescribed by laws

2.    Maintain full control of the proceedings

3.    Efficiently allocate and use time and court resources to avoid court delays
 

IS THE TIME LIMIT ABSOLUTE?

>  No
 

IN WHICH CASES IS THE TIME LIMITATION NOT APPLICABLE?

1.    CRIMINAL   CASES   COVERED   BY   THE   RULES   ON   SUMMARY PROCEDURE OR THOSE WHERE THE PENALTY DOESN’T EXCEED 6 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT OR A FINE OF P1000: governed by the
rules on summary procedure

2.    WHEN  THE  OFFENDED  PARTY  IS  ABOUT  TO  DEPART  WITH  NO DEFINITE  DATE  OF  RETURN—trial  shall  commence  within  3  days from the date of arraignment, and cannot be postponed except on
grounds over which the accused has no control

3.    CHILD  ABUSE  CASES—trial  shall  commence  within  3  days  from arraignment and cannot be postponed except on grounds of illness of the accused or other grounds beyond his control

4.    VIOLATIONS OF DANGEROUS DRUGS LAW—trial shall be finished within 3 months from the filing of the information

5.    KIDNAPPING,   ROBBERY   IN   A   BAND,   ROBBERY   AGAINST   A BANKING   OR   FINANCIAL   INSTITUTION,   VIOLATION   OF   THE CARNAPPING  ACT,  AND  OTHER  HEINOUS  CRIMES—trial  shall  be finished within 60 days from the first day of trial