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People of the Philippines vs. Sandiganbayan, et al.

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, versus SANDIGANBAYAN (Fourth Division) and BIENVENIDO A. TAN JR., Respondents.

G.R. No. 152532 | 2005-08-16

THIRD DIVISION

D E C I S I O N 

PANGANIBAN, J.: 

A judgment of acquittal made by a competent court on a valid information after the accused has entered a plea bars an appeal by the prosecution. Only a clear showing of grave abuse of discretion or denial of due process to the State can justify a review (through a petition for certiorari) of such decision by this Court. In acquitting private respondent in the present case, the Sandiganbayan has not been shown to have acted arbitrarily or whimsically. Equally important, the herein accused, Commissioner Bienvenido A. Tan Jr., has not been proven to have exceeded his discretion in the...