​People v De Leon,754 SCRA 147

​People v De Leon
754 SCRA 147
 
Facts:
The accused-appellants were charged with Robbery with Homicide . When arraigned all the accused appellants entered a plea of not guilty except accused Antonio. Thus, the RTC ordered a reversed trial in so far as Antonio is concerned. The RTC did not find the accused guilty of robbery with homicide as charged in the information, but found all the accused  guilty of the crime of murder. According to the RTC, contrary to the charged of robbery with homicide, the accused is guilty of the crime of murder because the prosecution failed to establish the crime of robbery.
 
On the other hand, the Court of Appeals affirmed with modification the ruling of the RTC and found all the accused guilty of the crime of murder.  However, the CA found accused Danilo guilty of separate crime of robbery.
 
Issue:
Whether or not the acquittal of accused-appellant Danilo De Leon on the information filed where he was already found guilty of another crime on the same information can be reversed by the CA.
 
Held:
No.  The SC find that the appellate court erred for violating the constitutional right of Danilo against double jeopardy as enshrined in Section 21, Article III of the 1987 Constitution. . Indeed the conviction for murder was premised on the fact that robbery was not proven. A judgment of acquittal is final and unappealable. In fact, the Court cannot, even an appeal based on an alleged misappreciation of evidence, review the verdict of acquittal of the trial court due to the constitutional proscription, the purpose of which is to afford the defendant, who has been acquitted, final repose and safeguard from government oppression through the abuse of criminal processes. The crime of robbery was not proven during the trial. The acquittal of the accused-appellant, including Danilo, is not reversible.