Short answer. Yes, it is possible. An acquittal does not automatically end your protection. The law says that regardless of the conviction or acquittal of the respondent, the Court must determine whether or not the PPO shall become final, so the protection order is decided on its own footing.
What the law says
Regardless of the conviction or acquittal of the respondent, the Court must determine whether or not the PPO shall become final
RA 9262, Section 16 — Permanent Protection Orders. Read the full provision →
The protection order is decided separately
It surprises many people that a criminal acquittal need not sweep away a protection order. The law states it plainly: Regardless of the conviction or acquittal of the respondent, the Court must determine whether or not the PPO shall become final. A Permanent Protection Order is not a punishment that stands or falls with a criminal verdict. It is a protective measure, decided on its own terms, aimed at keeping a person safe going forward. So even if the criminal case ends without a conviction, the court still has the duty to look at whether the PPO should become final.
Why acquittal is not the end
Criminal and protective proceedings answer different questions and are judged by different standards. A criminal case asks whether guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt; a protection order asks whether a person needs shielding from harm. Because the questions differ, the answers can differ too. The law reflects this by adding that even in a dismissal, a PPO shall be granted as long as there is no clear showing that the act from which the order might arise did not exist. In other words, the protection can survive unless it is clearly shown the underlying act never happened at all.
How final protection is decided
A PPO is issued by the court after notice and hearing. The respondent's failure to appear, lack of a lawyer, or a lawyer's unavailability will not postpone the hearing on the merits; if he appears without counsel, the court appoints one and proceeds. The court may consider a respondent's history of abusive conduct, even conduct not directed at the applicant. Once granted, a PPO stays effective until revoked by a court on the application of the person it protects. These features show the order is meant to be durable and centred on the victim's ongoing safety.
What this means for you
If you are anxious that an acquittal will leave you exposed, understand that the protection order is a distinct question the court must still resolve. Continue to press your need for protection, and bring forward the evidence of the abuse and the risk you face, including any pattern of past conduct. No provision promises a particular result — the court weighs whether the order should become final — but the door is not closed simply because a criminal charge did not succeed. Because these situations turn on evidence and procedure, it is wise to have a lawyer help you pursue the PPO on its own footing.