Brothers Michael and Paul were the sons of Ricardo Quintos, Villarosa’s political rival in the province. Villarosa, a former congressman, is the husband of House Deputy Speaker Girlie Villarosa.

Aside from Villarosa, also ordered acquitted in a decision written by Associate Justice Noel G. Tijam were Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista, and Mario Tobias. The CA decision was promulgated at 11:05 a.m. last March 18.

The CA ordered the immediate release from the National Bilibid Prison of Villarosa, Balaguer, Bautista, and Tobias unless there is a legal ground for their continued detention.

But the CA affirmed the trial court’s decision that convicted Eduardo Hermoso, Manolito Matricio, and Josue Ungsod of double murder. Their sentence, however, was reduced to life imprisonment in line with the law that removed the death penalty from the statute books.

In 2006, Villarosa, Balaguer, Bautista, Tobias, Hermoso, Matricio, and Ungson were sentenced to death by the RTC for the killing of the Quintos brothers in a decision written by Judge Ma. Theresa L. dela Torre Yadao.

The case went to the CA on automatic review of a death sentence.

In reversing the RTC, the CA said that "for lack of evidence to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt, accused-appellants Jose T. Villarosa, Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista, and Mario Tobias are hereby acquitted and ordered released unless they are lawfully held in custody for another cause."

In upholding with modification the RTC decision, the CA said:

"Accused-appellant Eduardo Hermoso is hereby found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of two counts of murder… and pursuant to Republic Act No. 9346 (the law that removed the death penalty in the statute books), is sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment) without possibility of parole for each count of murder."

"Accused-appellants Manolito Matricio and Josue Ungsod are likewise found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of two counts of murder… and are sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua for each count of murder," it said.

"Conspiracy having been established, accused-appellants Hermoso, Matricio, and Ungsod shall each suffer a three-fold penalty of reclusion perpetua for each count of murder."

"Accused-appellants Hermoso, Matricio, and Ungsod are ordered to jointly and severally pay the heirs of Michael Quintos and the heirs of Paul Quintos the amount of P214,232.50 as actual damages. They are also ordered to jointly and severally pay each group of heirs the amounts of P75,000 as civil indemnity, P50,000 as moral damages, and P25,000 as exemplary damages."

Associate Justices Martin S. Villarama Jr. and Sesinando E. Villon concurred with the decision.