Judge withdraws raps vs colleague

BAGUIO CITY — A Regional Trial Court judge here has withdrawn the perjury complaint he had filed against a fellow judge who had accused him of playing pusoy (a card game) during office hours.

RTC Branch 7 Judge Clarence Villanueva said he withdrew his complaint against Branch 6 Judge Ruben Ayson to study it further, adding that he might file a libel case instead.

Earlier, Ayson had filed administrative charges against Villanueva and other judges for allegedly playing pusoy while on official duty last year. Court of Appeals Justice Josefina Salonga is investigating the charges.

Ayson said Villanueva apparently realized that no criminal case could be filed against him (Ayson) until the Supreme Court has issued a decision on the administrative charges.

Ayson said he is seriously thinking of filing a case against Villanueva for alleged ignorance of the law and for violation of the confidential proceedings of the Supreme Court. — Artemio Dumlao