Speedy Trial

ACCORDING TO CORPUZ V.
SANDIGANBAYAN, WHAT FACTORS MAY BE

CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING WHETHER
THE ACCUSED HAS BEEN DEPRIVED OF HIS RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL AND
SPEEDY DISPOSITION OF HIS CASE?
1. Length of delay
2. Reason for the delay
3. The defendants assertion of his right
4. Prejudice to the defendant
WHAT ARE THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO THE ACCUSED WHOSE RIGHT

TO SPEEDY TRIAL HAS BEEN VIOLATED?
1. Motion to dismiss on the ground of violation of right to speedy trial
must be filed before trial. This has the same effect as an acquittal for purposes
of double jeopardy.
2. File for mandamus to compel a dismissal of the information
3. If he is restrained of his liberty, file for habeas corpus
4. Ask for the trial of the case and move to dismiss
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: THE RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL
An accuseds right to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial is guaranteed in

criminal cases by Section 14(2) of Article III of the Constitution. This right to a speedy
trial may be defined as one free from vexatious, capricious and oppressive delays, its
salutary objective being to assure that an innocent person may be free from the
anxiety and expense of a court litigation or, if otherwise, of having his guilt determined
within the shortest possible time compatible with the presentation and consideration of
whatsoever legitimate defense he may interpose. Intimating historical perspective on
the evolution of the right to speedy trial, the Supreme Court reiterated the old legal
maxim, justice delayed is justice denied. This oft-repeated adage requires the
expeditious resolution of disputes, much more so in criminal cases where an accused is
constitutionally guaranteed the right to a speedy trial (TAN vs. PEOPLE, G.R. No.
173637, April 21, 2009, Third Division, Chico-Nazario, J.).
The right of the accused to a speedy trial and to a speedy disposition of the case
against him was designed to prevent the oppression of the citizen by holding criminal
prosecution suspended over him for an indefinite time, and to prevent delays in the
administration of justice by mandating the courts to proceed with reasonable dispatch
in the trial of criminal cases. Such right to a speedy trial and a speedy disposition of a
case is violated only when the proceeding is attended by vexatious, capricious and
oppressive delays. The inquiry as to whether or not an accused has been denied such
right is not susceptible by precise qualification. The concept of a speedy disposition is a
relative term and must necessarily be a flexible concept. xxxxxxx A balancing test of
applying societal interests and the rights of the accused necessarily compels the court to
approach speedy trial cases on an ad hoc basis.
In determining whether the accused has been deprived of his right to a speedy
disposition of the case and to a speedy trial, Four (4) factors must be
considered: (a) length of delay; (b) the reason for the delay; (c) the defendants
assertion of his right; and (d) prejudice to the defendant. x x x. Closely related to the
length of delay is the reason or justification of the State for such delay. Different weights
should be assigned to different reasons or justifications invoked by the State. xxxx
(Corpuz v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 162214, 11 November 2004, 442 SCRA 294, 312-
313).
Relative thereto, the Supreme Court has clarified that in determining the right
of an accused to speedy trial, courts are required to do more than a mathematical
computation of the number of postponements of the scheduled hearings of the case. A
mere mathematical reckoning of the time involved is clearly insufficient, and particular
regard must be given to the facts and circumstances peculiar to each case.
In Alvizo v. Sandiganbayan, (G.R. No. 101689, 17 March 1993, 220 SCRA 55)
the Court ruled that there was no violation of the right to speedy trial and speedy
disposition. The Court took into account the reasons for the delay, i.e., the frequent
amendments of procedural laws by presidential decrees, the structural reorganizations
in existing prosecutorial agencies and the creation of new ones by executive fiat,
resulting in changes of personnel, preliminary jurisdiction, and the functions and
powers of prosecuting agencies. The Court also considered the failure of the accused to
assert such right, and the lack of prejudice caused by the delay to the accused.
In Defensor-Santiago v. Sandiganbayan, 408 Phil. 767 (2001), the complexity

of the issues and the failure of the accused to invoke her right to speedy disposition at
the appropriate time spelled defeat for her claim to the constitutional guarantee.
In Cadalin v. Philippine Overseas Employment Administrations

Administrator,(G.R. No. 104776, 5 December 1994, 238 SCRA 721), the Court,
considering also the complexity of the cases and the conduct of the parties lawyers, held
that the right to speedy disposition was not violated therein.
Petitioners objection to the prosecutions stand that he gave an implied

consent to the separate trial of Criminal Case No. 119830 is belied by the records of the
case. No objection was interposed by his defense counsel when this matter was
discussed during the initial hearing. Petitioners conformity thereto can be deduced
from his non-objection at the preliminary hearing when the prosecution manifested that
the evidence to be presented would be only for Criminal Cases No. 119831-119832. His
failure to object to the prosecutions manifestation that the cases be tried separately is
fatal to his case. The acts, mistakes and negligence of counsel bind his client, except only
when such mistakes would result in serious injustice.In fact, petitioners acquiescence is
evident from the transcript of stenographic notes during the initial presentation of the
Peoples evidence in the five BW cases. Xxxxx
In the case of Tan vs. People, the length of delay, complexity of the issues and
the petitioners failure to invoke said right to speedy trial at the appropriate time tolled
the death knell on his claim to the constitutional guarantee. More importantly, in failing
to interpose a timely objection to the prosecutions manifestation during the preliminary
hearings that the cases be tried separately, one after the other, petitioner was deemed to
have acquiesced and waived his objection thereto. For the reasons above-stated, there is
clearly insufficient ground to conclude that the prosecution is guilty of violating
petitioners right to speedy trial (TAN vs. PEOPLE, G.R. No. 173637, April 21, 2009, 3rd
Division, Chico-Nazario, J.).

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ACCORDING TO CORPUZ V.

SANDIGANBAYAN, WHAT FACTORS MAY BE

WHAT ARE THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO THE ACCUSED WHOSE RIGHT

An accuseds right to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial is guaranteed in

In Defensor-Santiago v. Sandiganbayan, 408 Phil. 767 (2001), the complexity

In Cadalin v. Philippine Overseas Employment Administrations

Petitioners objection to the prosecutions stand that he gave an implied

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