Case No.

1793
LEJANO v. PEOPLE
G.R. No. 176389
December 14, 2010
FACTS OF THE CASE
The case at bar revolves around the so-called Vizconde Massacre which involved the brutal killing of the
Estrellita Vizconde and her daughters inside their home in Paranaque City. A complaint was then filed by
the husband and father of the Vizcondes, Lauro Vizconde. The case was covered by media because of the
involvement of personalities such as Hubbert Webb. The suspects in the case at bar were Webb, Lejano,
Ventura, and others. The National Bureau of Investigation, in the course of their investigation confidently
announced that it had solved the case, presenting their star witness Jessica Alfaro, the laundrywoman who
witnessed the crime. During trial, the lower court found credible the testimonies provided by Alfaro and
that those provided by Webb and his co-accused were mere defenses of alibi. Subsequently, the Court of
Appeals affirmed the decision of the trial court, sentencing the petitioners to the penalty of reclusion
perpetua.
The Supreme Court, upon review of the case at bar, then rendered a resolution reversing the decision of the
appellate court and acquitting the accused, stating that the petitioner failed to prove the crime committed
beyond reasonable doubt. Shortly thereafter, complainant Vizconde sought for the court to reconsider the
said decision claiming that it was denied due process and failed to consider the credibility of the testimonies
of witness Alfaro.
ISSUE/S
Whether or not a reconsideration of the decision for acquittal constitutes double jeopardy
HELD/RATIO
YES. The Supreme Court said, [a] judgment of acquittal cannot be reconsidered because it places the
accused under double jeopardy. To reconsider a judgment of acquittal places the accused twice in
jeopardy of being punished for the crime of which he has already been absolved. In providing for the reason
of its decision, the court rationalized that, [i]n criminal cases, the full power of the State is ranged
against the accused. If there is no limit to attempts to prosecute the accused for the same offense after
he has been acquitted, the infinite power and capacity of the State for a sustained and repeated
litigation would eventually overwhelm the accused in terms of resources, stamina, and the will to
fight.

Prepared by: Antonio Dominic G. Salvador