Juanito Jose was arrested last year after authorities seized two packets believed to be kush amounting to P1.3 million. A complaint for illegal possession of drugs was filed before the Las Piñas prosecutor’s office, while complaints of alleged importation of illegal drugs and violation of Customs law were referred to the Pasay City prosecutor’s office.
Later on, the possession of illegal drugs case was filed in court on October 14, 2022 – and on January 6, the court released its decision. It only took 84 days for the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court Branch 197 to reach the ruling.
When asked by reporters if the trial was too quick, Pearlito Campanilla, one of Remulla’s lawyers, said the trial was not fast, adding that there is a Supreme Court (SC) order issued in 2017 that provided for a 75-day trial period.
But is the rule always followed?
In 2017, the High Court finalized and upheld its “Revised Guidelines for Continuous Trial of Criminal Cases.” It took effect on September 1, 2017.
The rules had been applied to newly filed criminal cases, including the ones governed by Special Laws and Rules, first and second-level courts, the Sandiganbayan, and even the Court of Tax Appeals. The SC listed the following objectives of the guidelines:
- Protect and advance the constitutional rights of persons to speedy disposition of cases
- “Reinforce and give teeth” to the existing rules on criminal procedure and other special rules
- Provide innovation and best practices
The ruling provided guidelines on motions, and even on access to free legal assistance. But aside from these, it stated specific rules on handling drug-related cases.
According to the guidelines, the trial period for drug-related cases shall be completed within 60 days from the filing of information or the charge from the prosecutor’s office. In addition, the decision should be made within 15 days from the submission of case for resolution – 75 days in total.
