FIRST DIVISION

WHEREFORE, to rectify the error committed and in order to prevent the miscarriage of
G.R. No. 223099, January 11, 2018 justice, the Decision promulgated today acquitting the accused is hereby RECALLED and
SET ASIDE.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LINO ALEJANDRO Y
SO ORDERED.9
PIMENTEL, Accused-Appellant.

DECISION
Accused-appellant filed a Motion for Reconsideration10 arguing that a judgment of acquittal
is immediately final and executory and can neither be withdrawn nor modified, because to
TIJAM, J.: do so would place an accused-appellant in double jeopardy.

This is an appeal from the Decision1 dated February 17, 2015 of the Court of Appeals (CA) The RTC denied the motion in an Order11 dated July 26, 2011, explaining its denial, thus:
in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 05256, which affirmed the July 26, 2011 Joint Decision 2 rendered
by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Cauayan City, Isabela, Branch 20 in Criminal Case Admittedly, the Court erroneously declared in its Decision that private complainant AAA
Nos. Br. 20-6096 & 20-6097, finding accused-appellant Lino Alejandro y  Pimentel guilty did not testify in Court. When in truth and in fact said private complainant took the
beyond reasonable doubt of two counts of rape. witness stand on September 3, 2008 as evidenced by the Order dated September 3, 2008
which was mistakenly captioned as Crim. Case No. 4979 instead of Crim. Cases Nos. Br.
Accused-appellant was charged with two counts of rape, defined and penalized under 20-6096 & 6097 and as a result thereof, the Order dated September 3, 2008 was
Article 266-A, paragraph 1(a) of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Republic Act No. erroneously attached by the Court employee to the records of another criminal case
83693, of a 12-year old minor, AAA.4 Upon arraignment, accused-appellant entered a plea entitled People of the Philippines versus Lino Alejandro, wherein the private complainant is
of not guilty and trial ensued. a certain xxx.

During trial, AAA testified that accused-appellant followed her, grabbed her, and brought Section 14, Article 8 of the 1997 Constitution requires that the Decision should be based
her to the back of a school. There, accused-appellant removed AAA's shorts and t-shirt, on facts and the law. The Court believes and so holds that the Decision contravenes the
laid on top of her, and inserted his penis into her vagina.5 highest law of the land because it is not in accordance with the law and the facts, and
therefore, the judgment of acquittal is invalid. As dispenser of truth and justice, the Court
Two months later, accused-appellant went inside AAA's house through a window one night, should be candid enough to admit its error and rectify itself with dispatch to avoid grave
undressed himself and AAA, and inserted his penis inside her vagina. On both occasions, miscarriage of justice.12
accused-appellant threatened to kill AAA if she told anybody what had happened. 6

AAA eventually told her mother, BBB, about the incident. BBB brought her to the Municipal
Health Office where she was examined by Dr. CCC. Dr. CCC testified that she found, A Joint Decision13 dated July 26, 2011 was rendered by the RTC, finding accused-appellant
among others, deep, healed, old and superficial lacerations in the hymen of AAA and guilty of two counts of rape and disposed as follows:
concluded that these indicated positive sexual intercourse.7
WHEREFORE, finding the accused LINO ALEJANDRO y PIMENTEL guilty beyond reasonable
Accused-appellant, through his counsel, manifested in open court that he would no longer doubt of two (2) counts of Simple Rape as defined and penalized under Article 266-A
present any evidence for the defense and submitted the case for decision. 8 paragraph (D) of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 8353, he is hereby
sentenced to suffer, in each count, the penalty of reclusion perpetua and to indemnify the
On July 26, 2011, the RTC promulgated a Decision acquitting the accused-appellant. On victim, minor AAA in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) and FIFTY
the same day, however, the RTC recalled. the said decision and issued an Order, stating: THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) as moral damages for each count.

Upon manifestation of Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Roderick Cruz that there were Costs to be paid by the accused.
Orders that were inadvertently placed in the record of Criminal Case No. Br. 20-4979
involving the same accused but different private complainant-victim, XXX, which if SO ORDERED.14
considered will result in a different verdict. The Order dated September 24, 2007, showed
that private complainant-victim, AAA, in the above[-]quoted cases, Crim. Case No. Br-20-
6096 & 6097, has actually testified in Court. Accused-appellant appealed to the CA, contending that the RTC gravely erred in recalling
its previously promulgated decision acquitting the accused-appellant; and for convicting
the accused-appellant despite the prosecution's failure to prove his guilt beyond The OSG did not submit a supplemental brief and adopted its Appellee's Brief before the
reasonable doubt.15 CA where it stated that the recall of the earlier decision of the trial court, by reason of the
manifestation filed by the public prosecutor, does not actually result in double jeopardy.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) countered that there was no error in the recall of The OSG maintained that what is proscribed under the double jeopardy clause is the filing
the acquittal. It ratiocinated that the public prosecutor's manifestation. was filed on the of an appeal that would allow the prosecutor to seek a second trier of fact of defendant's
same day of the promulgation of the recalled decision, pointing out that AAA actually guilt after having failed with the first. It stressed that here, the OSG only manifested that
testified during the trial and her testimony, if considered, would result in a different the court overlooked a fact, which if not considered, will result to a great injustice to the
verdict. The OSG stressed that what was proscribed under the double jeopardy clause was private complainant. It pressed that there was no double jeopardy because there was no
the filing of an appeal to allow the prosecutor to seek a second trier of facts of defendant's presentation of additional evidence to prove or strengthen the State's case.
guilt after having failed with the first.16
The appeal has merit.
The CA dismissed the appeal and held that the RTC's Order of recalling and setting aside
the judgment of acquittal was justified. It found that: In our jurisdiction, We adhere to the finality-of-acquittal doctrine, that is, a judgment of
acquittal is final and unappealable.20
The initial decision of the RTC acquitting the accused failed to express clearly and distinctly
the facts of the case, as the records on which the acquittal was based was incomplete and The 1987 Constitution guarantees the right of the accused against double jeopardy, thus:
inaccurate. Judges are expected to make complete findings of facts in their decisions, and
scrutinize closely the legal aspects of the case in the light of the evidence presented. Section 7, Rule 117 of the 1985 and 2000 Rules on Criminal Procedure strictly adhere to
Obviously, with the unintentional exclusion of the testimony of the private complainant the constitutional proscription against double jeopardy and provide for the requisites in
from the records of the two criminal cases, the RTC could not have made complete order for double jeopardy to attach. For double jeopardy to attach, the following elements
findings of facts in the initial decision. The verdict of acquittal had no factual basis. It was must concur: (1) a valid information sufficient in form and substance to sustain a
null and void, and should have necessarily been recalled and set aside.17 conviction of the crime charged; (2) a court of competent jurisdiction; (3)  the accused has
been arraigned and had pleaded; and (4) the accused was convicted or acquitted or the
case was dismissed without his express consent.21
The CA affirmed the conviction of accused-appellant and modified the award of damages,
as follows: Here, all the elements were present. There was a valid information for two counts of rape
over which the RTC had jurisdiction and to which the accused-appellant entered a plea of
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the appeal is hereby DISMISSED and the July 26, not guilty. After the trial, a judgment of acquittal was thereafter rendered and
2011 Joint Decision of the Regional Trial Court of Cauayan City, Isabela, Branch 20, in promulgated on July 25, 2011. What is peculiar in this case is that a judgment of acquittal
Criminal Case Nos. Br. 20-6096 and 20-6097, finding Lino Alejandro y Pimentel guilty was rendered based on the mistaken notion that the private complainant failed to testify;
beyond reasonable doubt of two (2) counts of rape is AFFIRMED WITH allegedly because of the mix-up of orders with a different case involving the same
MODIFICATION, in that Alejandro is ordered to pay legal interest on the moral damages accused-appellant. This, however, does not change the fact that a judgment of acquittal
awarded to the victim at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum from the date of finality had already been promulgated. Indeed, a judgment of acquittal, whether ordered by the
of this decision until fully paid. trial or the appellate court, is final, unappealable, and immediately executory upon its
promulgation.22
SO ORDERED.18
The rule on double jeopardy, however, is not without exceptions, which are: (1) Where
there has been deprivation of due process and where there is a finding of a mistrial, or (2)
Hence, this petition for review.
Where there has been a grave abuse of discretion under exceptional circumstances. We
find that these exceptions do not exist in this case.23 Here, there was no deprivation of due
Accused-appellant argues that despite the RTC's error and misapprehension of facts, it still
process or mistrial because the records show that the prosecution was actually able to
had no power to rectify such mistake as said acquittal had attained finality after valid
present their case and their witnesses.
promulgation. The error committed by the RTC cannot be validly recalled without
transgressing the accused-appellant's right against double jeopardy. He insists that not
A mere manifestation also will not suffice in assailing a judgment of acquittal. A petition
only was the decision of acquittal final and executory, the manifestation of the public
for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules should have been filed. A judgment of acquittal
prosecutor, which was the catalyst in having the decision recalled, was equivalent to a
may only be assailed in a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules. If the petition,
motion for reconsideration of the decision. He also points out that the CA erred in
regardless of its nomenclature, merely calls for an ordinary review of the findings of the
sustaining the conviction for rape despite AAA's incredible testimony.19
court a quo, the constitutional right of the accused against double jeopardy would be or to rectify a travesty of justice brought about by a  moro-moro  or mock trial. A
violated.24 final decision is the law of the case and is immutable and unalterable regardless
of any claim of error or incorrectness.
In People v. Laguio, Jr.,25 this Court stated that the only instance when double jeopardy
will not attach is when the RTC acted with grave abuse of discretion, thus: In criminal cases, a judgment of acquittal is immediately final upon its
promulgation. It cannot be recalled for correction or amendment except in the
x x x The only instance when double jeopardy will not attach is when the trial cases already mentioned nor withdrawn by another order reconsidering the
court acted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of dismissal of the case since the inherent power of a court to modify its order or
jurisdiction, such as where the prosecution was denied the opportunity to decision does not extend to a judgment of acquittal in a criminal case.
present its case or where the trial was a sham. However, while certiorari may be
availed of to correct an erroneous acquittal, the petitioner in such an extraordinary Complainant herein was already acquitted of murder by respondent in a decision
proceeding must clearly demonstrate that the trial court blatantly abused its authority to a promulgated on 13 August 1993. Applying the aforestated rule, the decision
point so grave as to deprive it of its very power to dispense justice.26 became final and immutable on the same day. As a member of the bench who is
always admonished to be conversant with the latest legal and judicial developments, more
so of elementary rules, respondent should have known that she could no longer "revise"
her decision of acquittal without violating not only an elementary rule of procedure but
In this case, the acquittal was not even questioned on the basis of grave abuse of
also the constitutional proscription against double jeopardy. When the law is so
discretion. It was only through a supposed mere manifestation of the prosecutor, a copy of
elementary, not to know it constitutes gross ignorance of the law. (Emphasis Ours)28
which was not in the records, that the RTC was apprised of the supposed mistake it
committed.
Similarly, in this case, the RTC was reminded of the fact that private complainant AAA
A similar instance had been ruled upon by this Court in Argel v. Judge Pascua,27 where the testified during the trial, only after it had already rendered and promulgated the judgment
Judge was sanctioned for gross ignorance of the law for recalling a judgment of acquittal, of acquittal. The RTC then realized that had AAA's testimony been taken into account, the
thus: case would have had a different outcome. Consequently, the RTC issued an Order recalling
the judgment of acquittal for the purpose of rectifying its error, and thereafter, rendered a
As stated earlier, complainant was accused of murder in Crim. Case No. 2999-V of the RTC Decision convicting the accused-appellant for two counts of rape. This, however, cannot be
of Vigan, Ilocos Sur. On 13 August 1993 judgment was promulgated acquitting him on the countenanced for a contrary ruling would transgress the accused-appellant's
ground that there was no witness who positively identified him as the perpetrator of the constitutionally-enshrined right against double jeopardy.
crime. However after respondent's attention was called by the private
complainant's counsel to the fact that there was such a witness and confirmed by WHEREFORE, the appeal is hereby GRANTED. The Decision dated February 17, 2015 of
respondent upon re-reading her notes, she issued an Order dated 16 August the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 05256, which affirmed the July 26, 2011
1993 stating her intention to "revise" the previous judgment of acquittal, Joint Decision rendered by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Cauayan City, Isabela, Branch
branded the same as "uncalled for" and "not final," and reset the case for 20 in Criminal Case Nos. Br. 20-6096 & 20-6097, finding accused-appellant Lino.
another "rendering of the decision." The reason given was that the judgment of Alejandro y Pimentel guilty beyond reasonable doubt of two counts of rape, is
acquittal was rendered without all the facts and circumstances being brought to hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE.
her attention.
Accused-appellant Lino Alejandro y Pimentel is hereby ACQUITTED and is ordered
Respondent Judge explained. that the transcript of stenographic notes of the testimony of immediately RELEASED from custody, unless he is being held for another lawful cause.
eyewitness Tito Retreta was not attached to the records when she wrote her
decision. Thus, in a Decision dated 19 August 1993, respondent Judge declared Let a copy of this Decision be furnished to the Director of the Bureau of Corrections,
herein complainant Miguel Argel guilty beyond reasonable doubt of murder on the Muntinlupa City for immediate implementation, who is then also directed to report to this
basis of the eyewitness account of Tito Retreta, sentenced complainant Argel to seventeen Court the action he has taken within five (5) days from receipt of this Decision.
(17) years, four (4) months and one (1) day of reclusion temporal to reclusion
perpetua,  and to pay the heirs of the victim P50,000.00 as civil indemnity and P60,000.00 SO ORDERED.
for actual damages.

Too elementary is the rule that a decision once final is no longer susceptible to
amendment or alteration except to correct errors which are clerical in nature, to
clarify any ambiguity caused by an omission or mistake in the dispositive portion