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ABELARDO B. LICAROS vs. THE Sandiganbayan and THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR

ABELARDO B. LICAROS, petitioner, vs. THE SANDIGANBAYAN and THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, respondents.

G.R. No. 145851 | 2001-11-22

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

The unreasonable delay of more than ten (10) years to resolve a criminal case, without fault on the part of the accused and despite his earnest effort to have his case decided, violates the constitutional right to the speedy disposition of a case. Unlike the right to a speedy trial, this constitutional privilege applies not only during the trial stage, but also when the case has already been submitted for decision.

The Case

Before this Court is a Petition for Mandamus[1] under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court, seeking to compel the Sandiganbayan (First Division) to dismiss Criminal Case No. 6672 against...