Right to Appeal

The right to appeal is neither a natural right nor a component of due process. It is a mere statutory privilege and may be exercised only in the manner and in accordance with the provision of law. An appealing party must strictly comply with the requisites laid down in the Rules of Court. Deviation from the Rules cannot be tolerated. The requirements for perfecting an appeal must be strictly followed as they are considered indispensable interdiction against needless delays. It is not only mandatory but jurisdictional as well, hence failure to appeal renders the judgment final and executory. Just as the losing party has the privilege to file an appeaal within the prescribed period, so also does the prevailing party have the correlative right to enjoy the finality of a decision in his favor.