The anti-graft court granted the motion filed by Romualdez to dismiss the case lodged against him by Victor Domingo, the mayors co-chairman in the Regional Development Council.
In a 12-page resolution, Associate Justice Rodolfo Palattao, of the Sandiganbayans fourth division, said the Regional Trial Court, not the anti-graft court, should handle the case.
Domingo sued Romualdez for libel for calling him "a problem person, a liar, drug addict, silly, crazy and no good person" during an interview with Bombo Radyo on Aug. 29, 2000.
The mayor also reportedly described Domingo as a "disgrace to the RDC and an ingrate."
Domingo had been critical of Romualdez for being absent from RDC meetings. Jose Rodel Clapano