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.
X
by Counterflix
> 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
X
by Counterflix
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