Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) are the country’s main trial courts of general jurisdiction for serious crimes. How long a criminal case takes in the RTC depends on the charge, the number of accused and witnesses, how busy the court is, and how strictly everyone follows the “continuous trial” system and the constitutional right to a speedy trial. Below is a practical, end-to-end guide to timelines, legal anchors, and what actually happens in real cases.

Quick answer (realistic ranges)

Best-case (simple case, few witnesses, parties cooperate, continuous trial rigorously followed): ~6–12 months from filing of the Information to judgment.
Typical (moderately contested case): about 1.5–3 years.
Complex (many accused/witnesses, technical evidence, frequent motions/interlocutory challenges): 3–7 years or more.
If the accused is detained: settings are prioritized, and timelines should compress—though this still depends on congestion and logistics.

These are practical ranges. The formal rules often contemplate faster resolution, but slippage happens due to postponements, witness unavailability, writs/petitions, and docket load.

The legal time-anchors that matter

Right to speedy trial and disposition – 1987 Constitution (Art. III, Sec. 14(2); Art. VIII, Sec. 15).
Speedy Trial Act – R.A. No. 8493 and its implementing rules (time limits, excludable delays).
Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure – especially on arraignment, pre-trial, trial, demurrer, promulgation.
Supreme Court Continuous Trial Guidelines (2017, as amended) – require tightly scheduled, back-to-back hearings and discourage postponements.
Decision period – Trial courts must decide within 90 days from the case being submitted for decision (Const., Art. VIII, Sec. 15).
Key jurisprudence – The Supreme Court uses a balancing test (length of delay, reasons, assertion of right, prejudice) for speedy-trial claims; delays attributable to the accused or justified by valid reasons may be excluded.

Life cycle of an RTC criminal case and indicative timelines

Important: The items marked “target/ideal” reflect the spirit of the continuous trial framework. Actual calendars vary by court.

1) Complaint, investigation, and filing

Police/Ombudsman/Prosecutor stage.
- Inquest (if arrest without warrant) or preliminary investigation (counter-affidavits, replies).
- Outcome: prosecutor files an Information in the RTC or dismisses/downsizes the charge.
Time impact: This pre-court phase can range days (inquest) to several months (full preliminary investigation).

2) Raffle, case assignment, and first orders

After the Information is filed, the case is raffled to an RTC branch.
If the accused is at large: court may issue a warrant of arrest.
If the accused applies for bail: summary bail hearings may follow.
Target/ideal: Raffle and initial orders within 1–2 weeks of filing.

3) Arrest/surrender and bail

Non-bailable offenses require a bail hearing on evidence of guilt being strong; bailable offenses permit bail as a matter of right before conviction.
Time impact: Days to weeks depending on hearing dates, evidence, and jail production of the accused.

4) Arraignment and pre-trial

Arraignment (reading of the charge; plea) triggers many clocks.
Pre-trial is where the court marks exhibits, stipulates facts, prunes issues, and sets firm trial dates under continuous trial.
Target/ideal: Arraignment soon after the court acquires jurisdiction, with pre-trial within the next few weeks, and all trial dates fixed at pre-trial.

5) Trial on the merits (continuous trial)

Prosecution evidence → possible demurrer to evidence (with or without leave).
Defense evidence → rebuttal/sur-rebuttal if needed.
Memoranda (if required) → case submitted for decision.
Target/ideal cadence:
- Frequent, tightly set hearings (e.g., weekly/bi-weekly), limited postponements, time-boxed witness presentation, and firm caps per side as directed by the branch.
- Overall continuous-trial aspiration: completion of evidence within a few months, not years, for ordinary cases.

6) Decision (promulgation of judgment)

Once submitted for decision (i.e., no more evidence and, if allowed, memoranda filed), the RTC must decide within 90 days.
Promulgation is the formal reading/receipt of the judgment.

What speeds cases up (or slows them down)

Speeds up

Accused under detention (priority settings).
Early stipulations and marking of exhibits at pre-trial.
Back-to-back witness scheduling; counsel and witnesses always ready.
Remote testimony and judicial affidavits effectively used.
Narrow issues (e.g., identity or corpus delicti uncontested).

Slows down

Multiple accused with separate counsel, or accused at large.
Hard-to-serve subpoenas, production of detained witnesses, or forensic backlogs.
Frequent motions (bail, inhibition, suppression, reconsideration).
Interlocutory petitions (e.g., petitions for certiorari) in higher courts.
Change of counsel/judge, inhibitions, or re-raffle.
Congested dockets, holidays, calamities, and security/transport issues.

Understanding the formal time limits

From arraignment to start of trial: the Speedy Trial framework expects prompt commencement (often cited as within 30 days in practice), subject to excludable delays (e.g., motions, absence attributable to the defense, interlocutory relief, force majeure).
Excludable periods don’t count against the State (e.g., time to resolve a demurrer or motion; continuances justified by the ends of justice).
Decision period: 90 days from submission for decision (constitutional).
Appellate review (post-judgment) has its own timelines and can add months to years.

Bottom line: If the court enforces continuous trial and the parties cooperate, evidence can finish within a few months and judgment can follow within 90 days of submission. Real-world frictions often extend that schedule.

Special tracks and notable wrinkles

Plea bargaining (e.g., in drug cases) can truncate the case if the court and prosecutor consent and the accused pleads to a lesser offense.
Child witnesses and sensitive offenses follow protective rules that affect how (not necessarily how long) evidence is taken.
Cybercrime and e-evidence may need authenticating IT testimony/chain-of-custody, which can lengthen trial.
Complex financial crimes (e.g., syndicated estafa) often involve voluminous records and many witnesses—expect longer trials.
Civil liability (damages, restitution) is resolved in the same criminal case, but the court may receive memoranda or additional proof on damages, which can extend submission.

Practical timelines (illustrative)

These show one efficient path under continuous trial. Your court’s calendar may differ.

Stage	Illustrative duration
Filing of Information → raffle/orders	1–2 weeks
Arrest/surrender & bail (if any)	1–4 weeks
Arraignment	within 2–6 weeks from filing/jurisdiction
Pre-trial & fixing trial dates	within 2–4 weeks after arraignment
Prosecution evidence	1–3 months
(Optional) Demurrer to evidence & resolution	1–2 months
Defense evidence	1–3 months
Memoranda (if allowed) → submission	2–4 weeks
Decision from submission	≤90 days
Total (streamlined case)	~6–12 months

Add months (or years) for: multiple accused, hard-to-get witnesses, technically complex proof, or interlocutory litigation.

Remedies when the case drags

Assert the right early and often. File a Motion to Set Case for Continuous Trial (or to maintain the schedule) and oppose dilatory postponements.
Move to resolve pending incidents (e.g., demurrer, bail) that stall the main trial.
Seek priority if the accused is detained, elderly, or if witnesses are vulnerable.
Petition for mandamus (exceptional) to compel action on matters long submitted and unresolved.
Motion to dismiss for violation of the right to speedy trial: The court weighs the length of delay, reasons, your timely assertion, and actual prejudice (e.g., oppressive incarceration, anxiety, impaired defense). Success depends on showing unjustified, inordinate delay not attributable to the defense.

How you can help your case move faster

Come to pre-trial ready with marked exhibits, stipulations, and your witness list in order of appearance.
Block dates with all witnesses and align calendars with the court and opposing counsel.
Use judicial affidavits and video-conferencing (if allowed) to minimize travel and postponements.
Avoid avoidable motions; consolidate issues.
Keep a delay log (who sought postponements and why) to protect your speedy-trial posture.

Key takeaways

The law and Supreme Court policy aim for tight, continuous trials and 90-day decisions after submission.
Simple cases can finish within a year; many take 1.5–3 years; complex matters, longer.
Active case management by the judge and disciplined participation by counsel and parties are the single biggest predictors of a faster resolution.

This article is for general information on Philippine RTC criminal timelines and does not constitute legal advice. Specific cases differ—consult counsel to map your court’s actual calendar and strategize around the continuous trial framework.