SC launches rules for speedy trial procedures in 1st level courts

As part of the reforms to speed up the resolution of cases and trials in the country, the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday launched the rules on expedited procedures.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the right to a speedy resolution of cases and speedy trials have been a vital consideration of the high court in promulgating the rules of procedure.

“The Constitutional rights to the speedy resolution of cases and speedy trial guarantee that every litigant who seeks to enforce or defend their claims before the courts are not unduly burdened by the rigidities of legal proceedings,” Gesmundo said during his speech.

“The Supreme Court is completely aware that the Filipino people play a high premium on timely adjudication of cases filed in the trial courts,” he added.

Gesmundo said the 1991 Revised Rule on Summary Procedure and the 2016 Revised Rules on Small Claims Cases had been instrumental in providing the judicious resolution of civil and criminal cases through the simple and convenient modes of proceedings

He said these rules have assisted litigants in adjudicating their legal disputes promptly and without needless delay.

“The enactment of the Republic Act No. 11576, that expanded the jurisdictional amount cognizable by the first level courts in civil cases to P2,000,000 among others, led the Supreme Court to revive and constitute the Committee on the Revision of the Rules on Summary Procedure and Small Claims Cases,” he said.

“The objective of the committee was not only to adjust the cases covered by these rules, but also to incorporate recent developments in procedural and substantive law and jurisprudence, the best practices of the trial court judges as well as adopt technological advancements,” he added.

The Chief Justice said that through the collective efforts of the committee, including Committee Chairperson Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting, Committee Vice Chairperson Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, and its members, the proposed rules were timely submitted to the Supreme Court En Banc.

“In turn, the members of the Supreme Court thoroughly deliberated the provisions to ensure that the essence of the speedy resolution of cases and speedy trial are intact and resolute,” he said.

“It is the hope of the court that these rules shall be applied meticulously so that every civil and criminal case covered therein shall be resolved appropriately without unwarranted delay,” he added.

The Supreme Court En Banc approved the rules on expedited procedures in first-level courts under A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC last March 1.

Meanwhile, the rules will apply and take effect on Monday, April 11. — DVM, GMA News