Judge cleared over death sentence meted out to ex-congressman

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has cleared a Quezon City Regional Trial Court judge of criminal charges for handing down the death sentence on former Mindoro Occidental Rep. Jose Villarosa in connection with the 1997 killing of two sons of the lawmaker’s political rival.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Judge Theresa Yadao was denied due process when then Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera directed the indictment of the judge on March 1, 2010, for “knowingly rendering an unjust judgment” against Villarosa.

Villarosa sued Yadao for violation of Article 204 of the Revised Penal Code after the Court of Appeals acquitted him in March 2008. Villarosa’s wife, incumbent Mindoro Occidental Rep. Amelita Villarosa, was a staunch ally of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In revoking Devanadera’s order, De Lima said the former lawmaker failed to present proof that Yadao showed “bad faith, malice or corrupt purpose” when she convicted him of masterminding the killing of brothers Paul and Michael Quintos, sons of his political rival, Ricardo Quintos.

“We are one with the investigating prosecutor that there is nothing in the record … and nothing from the assailed decision itself … that would convince us that Judge Yadao was personally animated by some malicious desire, hatred or vendetta to send Villarosa to jail,” De Lima said in a four-page resolution.

De Lima said the judge was not given a chance to submit her comment when Devanadera reversed the resolution of Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, who had recommended the dismissal of Villarosa’s complaint against Yadao.

In her order, Devanadera had said Navera was “too trusting and sweeping in nature” in believing the judge’s denial and argument of “good faith.” On Feb. 3, 2006, Yadao found Villarosa and his coaccused guilty of the murder of the Quintos brothers who were gunned down in Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental, on Dec. 17, 1997.

But the appellate court rescinded the judge’s ruling and ordered Villarosa’s immediate release from the New Bilibid Prison.