Philippines Case Decongestion and Delay Reduction Project

Philippines Case Decongestion and Delay Reduction Project

Professor Rosemary Hunter

Griffith University

Case Types: Supreme Court

74% civil

From Court of Appeals

Individual/corporation vs individual/court

26% criminal

From RTCs

Individual vs People of the Philippines

Court of Appeals

From RTCs, NLRC, other quasi-judicial agencies46% question of fact only

68% civil

Real property, collect sum of money, damages, certiorari

Individual vs individual

32% criminal

Homicide, estafa

Individual vs People of the Philippines

Court of Tax Appeals

From BIRCorporations vs government

Sandiganbayan

Public prosecutorsIndividual defendants86% on bail

RTCs

59% civil

Marriage and marital relations, adoption (Family Courts), collect sum of money

Individuals vs individuals

41% criminal

Heinous Crimes: homicide, rape

Dangerous Drugs: drugs

Family Courts: theft

Ordinary RTCs: various

Prosecution by public prosecutor

MeTCs

8% civil

Collect sum of money, damages, forcible entry and unlawful detainer

62% plaintiffs = corporations

92% respondents = individuals

89% criminal

Bouncing checks (BP22), breach city ordinance, theft, variety of other criminal matters


MTCCs

10% civil

Collect sum of money, forcible entry

63% Ps and 98% Rs = individuals

86% criminal

Gambling, theft, firearms/weapons + variety of other criminal matters

Few bouncing checks


MTCs

11% civil

Collect sum of money

Ps = individual/corporations

Rs = individuals

86% criminal

Bouncing checks, physical injuries, theft + variety of other criminal matters

Prosecution mostly by public prosecutor, 22% by police/peace officer

MCTCs

14% civil

Collect sum of money

Ps = individuals/corporations

Rs = individuals

77% criminal

Physical injuries, gambling, theft + variety of other criminal matters

Not bouncing checks

53% of prosecutions by police/peace officer (shorter duration)

Case Durations

Sandiganbayan had longest casesSuperior court cases also lengthyThen some first level courtsMost medians and all 90th percentiles far exceed international benchmarks

Chart1 (2)

3.27.7

0.51.4

2.67.4

2.64.5

6.69.2

1.13.6

0.753.3

0.662.6

15.5

1.34.6

0.42.3

0.672.6

1.13.5

0.956.5

0.54

Median Duration (years)

90th Percentile (years)

Sheet1

CourtMedian Duration (years)90th Percentile (years)

Supreme - decided3.27.7

Supreme - resolved0.51.4

CA2.67.4

CTA2.64.5

Sandiganbayan6.69.2

RTC civil1.13.6

RTC criminal0.753.3

MetC civil0.662.6

MetC criminal15.5

MTCC civil1.34.6

MTCC criminal0.42.3

MTC civil0.672.6

MTC criminal1.13.5

MCTC civil0.956.5

MCTC criminal0.54

Sheet2

Longest Phase

CourtPhaseMedian Duration

CTAHearing1.4 years

SandiganbayanTrial2.4 years

RTC civilFiling to Pre-trial3.5 months

RTC criminalTrial8.5 months

MeTC civilUp to trial3.5 months

(no data on trial times)

MeTC criminalFiling to Arraignment3 months


MTCC civilUp to trial4.5 months

(no data on trial times, but only 11 trials)

MTCC criminalTrial1 year

MTC civilFiling to Pre-trial7 months

MTC criminalTrial4 months

MCTC civilFiling to Pre-trial3.7 months

MCTC criminalTrial13.6 months

Sheet3

Decision Times

CourtMedian Decision TimeConstitutional limitOver Limit

Supreme Court4.5 months24 months12%

Court of Appeal22.8 months24 months47%

CTA6 months

Sandiganbayan8 months

RTC civil2 months3 months28%

RTC criminal42 days3 months24%

MeTC civil40 days3 months25%

MeTC criminal78 days (n=15)3 months33%n=5

MTCC civil15 days3 months8%

MTCC criminal31 days (n=10)3 months10%n=1

MTC civil54 days (n=17)3 months29%n=5

MTC criminal28 days (n=13)3 months38%n=5

MCTC civil25 days3 months20%

MCTC criminal58 days (n=16)3 months25%n=4

Sheet4

Hearing Dates and Postponements

CourtTrial rateMean no.Mean no.ProportionMedian

hearing datespostponementspostponedduration

CTA100%12.373.6529%2.6 years

Sandiganbayan100%21524%6.6 years

RTC civil67%6.292.1334%13 months

RTC criminal42%10.164.4844%9 months

MeTC civil51%2.980.6823%8 months

MeTC criminal61%6.342.2636%12 months

MTCC civil10%4.372.0146%15.3 months

MTCC criminal11%3.441.2135%4.5 months

MTC civil12%2.191.0146%8 months

MTC criminal10%4.442.2551%13 months

MCTC civil35%4.721.7838%11.5 months

MCTC criminal14%4.972.3447%6 months

Sheet5

Outcomes - Civil Cases

CourtSettledDecidedFor P/AppellantFor R/AppelleeDismissed

Supreme Court0%100%11%89%0%

Court of Appeals0%99%78%16%0%

CTA0%100%73%16%0%

RTC12%82%73%12%11%

MeTC21%71%72%19%9%

MTCC36%57%77%16%7%

MTC40%55%87%4%9%

MCTC32%65%74%24%0%

Sheet6

Outcomes - Criminal Cases

CourtGuilty PleaWithdrawnDecidedConvicted/Acquitted/DismissedOverallOverall

AppealAppealConvictionFruitless

DismissedUpheldRateProsecutions

Supreme Court100%50%50%

Court of Appeals100%14%86%

Sandiganbayan1%99%21%77%1%22%

RTC39%14%46%37%31%32%56%29%

MeTC13%33%54%4%12%84%15%78%

MTCC40%36%24%16%10%74%44%54%

MTC8%46%36%3%22%75%9%73%

MCTC31%40%29%16%18%64%36%59%

Longest Phase of Case

Criminal cases trials Civil cases filing to pre-trialLongest phase in criminal cases longer than longest phase in civil cases

Chart1 (2)

3.27.7

0.51.4

2.67.4

2.64.5

6.69.2

1.13.6

0.753.3

0.662.6

15.5

1.34.6

0.42.3

0.672.6

1.13.5

0.956.5

0.54



Sheet1




CA2.67.4

CTA2.64.5

Sandiganbayan6.69.2

RTC civil1.13.6

RTC criminal0.753.3

MetC civil0.662.6

MetC criminal15.5

MTCC civil1.34.6

MTCC criminal0.42.3

MTC civil0.672.6

MTC criminal1.13.5

MCTC civil0.956.5

MCTC criminal0.54

Sheet2

Longest Phase

CourtLongest PhaseMedian Duration

CTAHearing1.4 years















Sheet3

Decision Times




CTA6 months












Sheet4




CTA100%12.373.6529%2.6 years












Sheet5





CTA0%100%73%16%0%

RTC12%82%73%12%11%

MeTC21%71%72%19%9%

MTCC36%57%77%16%7%

MTC40%55%87%4%9%

MCTC32%65%74%24%0%

Sheet6








RTC39%14%46%37%31%32%56%29%

MeTC13%33%54%4%12%84%15%78%

MTCC40%36%24%16%10%74%44%54%

MTC8%46%36%3%22%75%9%73%

MCTC31%40%29%16%18%64%36%59%


Average no. of hearing dates < 5 in most courts23%-51% of scheduled hearing dates postponedLow trial rates in first level courts outside NCRRelationship between trial rate, no. hearing dates and case duration?

Chart1 (2)

3.27.7

0.51.4

2.67.4

2.64.5

6.69.2

1.13.6

0.753.3

0.662.6

15.5

1.34.6

0.42.3

0.672.6

1.13.5

0.956.5

0.54



Sheet1




CA2.67.4

CTA2.64.5

Sandiganbayan6.69.2

RTC civil1.13.6

RTC criminal0.753.3

MetC civil0.662.6

MetC criminal15.5

MTCC civil1.34.6

MTCC criminal0.42.3

MTC civil0.672.6

MTC criminal1.13.5

MCTC civil0.956.5

MCTC criminal0.54

Sheet2

Longest Phase


CTAHearing1.4 years















Sheet3

Decision Times




CTA6 months












Sheet4




CTA100%12.373.6529%2.6 years












Sheet5





CTA0%100%73%16%0%

RTC12%82%73%12%11%

MeTC21%71%72%19%9%

MTCC36%57%77%16%7%

MTC40%55%87%4%9%

MCTC32%65%74%24%0%

Sheet6








RTC39%14%46%37%31%32%56%29%

MeTC13%33%54%4%12%84%15%78%

MTCC40%36%24%16%10%74%44%54%

MTC8%46%36%3%22%75%9%73%

MCTC31%40%29%16%18%64%36%59%

Postponements

Shortage of prosecutors

non-appearance of prosecution major reason for postponements in

RTC

All first level courts (in MTC and MCTC includes police/peace officers)

Shortage of public attorneys

non-appearance of public attorney a major reason for postponements only in

CTA

MCTC criminal cases

Shortage of lawyers

non-appearance of counsel a major reason for postponements in

CTA

Sandiganbayan, RTC, MCTC criminal cases (includes counsel de oficio)

MeTC, MTCC, MTC, MCTC civil cases

Lawyers appearing unprepared

Counsel unable to proceed a major reason for postponements only in

CTA

Sandiganbayan

Witnesses dont appear

Non-appearance of witnesses a major cause of postponements in

CTA

Sandiganbayan

RTC criminal cases

Private complainants unwilling to proceed

non-appearance of private complainant a major reason for postponements only in

MeTC criminal cases

+ Almost never a reason for archiving

Suggested reasons for delay that did not cause many postponements

Non-service of warrantsNotice to appear not received in timeUnavailability of police witnessesShortage of forensic/medical experts

Additional causes of postponements

Unavailability of judge

RTC, MCTC, MeTC criminal cases

Non-appearance of party

Sandiganbayan, MeTC, MCTC, RTC civil cases

Other causes of delay

BP22 cases

30% of MeTC criminal cases, 14% of MTC criminal cases, otherwise not prominentWhere testable, BP22 cases involved more cases per file, larger amounts in issue, more arrest warrants, more hearing dates, more postponements, and more motions than other criminal cases, and were more likely to involve a pre-trial hearing, a trial, and to be withdrawn

Jurisdictional distribution in RTCs

Cases in Heinous Crime Courts took longest to finaliseCivil cases in ordinary RTCs and Dangerous Drug courts also lengthy33% defendants in Family Court criminal cases were juveniles

Outcomes Civil Cases

No settlement in highest courtsSettlement rate highest (32-40%) in first level courts outside NCRPlaintiffs successful in approx 75% of decided cases in almost all courts

Chart1 (2)

3.27.7

0.51.4

2.67.4

2.64.5

6.69.2

1.13.6

0.753.3

0.662.6

15.5

1.34.6

0.42.3

0.672.6

1.13.5

0.956.5

0.54



Sheet1




CA2.67.4

CTA2.64.5

Sandiganbayan6.69.2

RTC civil1.13.6

RTC criminal0.753.3

MetC civil0.662.6

MetC criminal15.5

MTCC civil1.34.6

MTCC criminal0.42.3

MTC civil0.672.6

MTC criminal1.13.5

MCTC civil0.956.5

MCTC criminal0.54

Sheet2

Longest Phase


CTAHearing1.4 years















Sheet3

Decision Times




CTA6 months












Sheet4




CTA100%12.373.6529%2.6 years












Sheet5





CTA0%100%73%16%0%

RTC12%82%73%12%11%

MeTC21%71%72%19%9%

MTCC36%57%77%16%7%

MTC40%55%87%4%9%

MCTC32%65%74%24%0%

Sheet6








RTC39%14%46%37%31%32%56%29%

MeTC13%33%54%4%12%84%15%78%

MTCC40%36%24%16%10%74%44%54%

MTC8%46%36%3%22%75%9%73%

MCTC31%40%29%16%18%64%36%59%

Outcomes Criminal Cases

Highest rate of guilty pleas = 40% in RTCs and MTCCs; only 1% guilty pleas in SandiganbayanVery few conviction decisions in first level courts: 3-16%Highest overall conviction rate (including guilty pleas) = 56% in RTCs; lowest = 9% in MTCs; Sandiganbayan = 22%

Chart1 (2)

3.27.7

0.51.4

2.67.4

2.64.5

6.69.2

1.13.6

0.753.3

0.662.6

15.5

1.34.6

0.42.3

0.672.6

1.13.5

0.956.5

0.54



Sheet1




CA2.67.4

CTA2.64.5

Sandiganbayan6.69.2

RTC civil1.13.6

RTC criminal0.753.3

MetC civil0.662.6

MetC criminal15.5

MTCC civil1.34.6

MTCC criminal0.42.3

MTC civil0.672.6

MTC criminal1.13.5

MCTC civil0.956.5

MCTC criminal0.54

Sheet2

Longest Phase


CTAHearing1.4 years















Sheet3

Decision Times




CTA6 months












Sheet4




CTA100%12.373.6529%2.6 years












Sheet5





CTA0%100%73%16%0%

RTC12%82%73%12%11%

MeTC21%71%72%19%9%

MTCC36%57%77%16%7%

MTC40%55%87%4%9%

MCTC32%65%74%24%0%

Sheet6








RTC39%14%46%37%31%32%56%29%

MeTC13%33%54%4%12%84%15%78%

MTCC40%36%24%16%10%74%44%54%

MTC8%46%36%3%22%75%9%73%

MCTC31%40%29%16%18%64%36%59%

1/3 or more cases in first level courts withdrawn64-84% of decided cases in first level courts dismissedTotal rate of fruitless prosecutions in first level courts = 54-78%Not accounted for by preliminary investigations


CTAHearing1.4 years















Supreme - decided

Supreme - resolved

CA

CTA

Sandiganbayan

RTC civil

RTC criminal

MetC civil

MetC criminal

MTCC civil

MTCC criminal

MTC civil

MTC criminal

MCTC civil

MCTC criminal

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Median Duration (years)90th Percentile (years)




CA2.67.4

CTA2.64.5

Sandiganbayan6.69.2

RTC civil1.13.6

RTC criminal0.753.3

MetC civil0.662.6

MetC criminal15.5

MTCC civil1.34.6

MTCC criminal0.42.3

MTC civil0.672.6

MTC criminal1.13.5

MCTC civil0.956.5

MCTC criminal0.54




CTA6 months















CTA0%100%73%16%0%

RTC12%82%73%12%11%

MeTC21%71%72%19%9%

MTCC36%57%77%16%7%

MTC 40%55%87%4%9%

MCTC32%65%74%24%0%



CTA100%12.373.6529%2.6 years


















RTC39%14%46%37%31%32%56%29%

MeTC13%33%54%4%12%84%15%78%

MTCC40%36%24%16%10%74%44%54%

MTC 8%46%36%3%22%75%9%73%

MCTC31%40%29%16%18%64%36%59%

Philippines Case Decongestion and Delay Reduction Project

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