By Ferdinand Fabella

The Makati City judge, who has been sued for having sexual relations with a married woman, filed his counter-affidavit before the Prosecutors Office yesterday, two months after the husband took the case to court.

But Executive Judge Henry Laron of Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 65 was a no-show in yesterday?s continuation of the preliminary investigation, sending his lawyer instead to file his answer to the charges lodged against him.

City Prosecutor Lody Tantioco said he was giving enough time for Wilfredo Tuvillo to come up with a reply as well.

?I will give the complainant until Feb.17 to file a reply to the counter-affidavit,? Tantioco said, noting that he was out of the country.

Laron?s self-confessed former mistress and co-accused Melissa Jimenez-Tuvillo is expected to submit her own counter-affidavit on Friday.

Tantioco refused to give copies of Laron?s answer, saying only parties in the case are entitled to the documents.

Laron had asked the dropping of a complaint Melissa filed against him before the Supreme Court?s Office of the Court Administrator, acknowledging the affair.

?At that time, I had been married for 17 years, and my wife was in the United States attending to her ailing father. Melissa was likewise then without a husband as Mr. Tuvillo was out at sea. She was aware of my marital status and that I have three sons,? he said in his comment submitted to the high tribunal.

Tuvillo, a seaman, filed eight counts of adultery against Melissa, his wife of 17 years, and Laron on Nov. 25, 2008 upon learning of their illicit affair, from November 2005 to January 2008.

Preliminary hearings were set for Dec. 2 and 16 last year and last Jan. 6, which were postponed owing to the absence of Laron, Melissa and Tuvillo.

Asked for comment yesterday, Laron?s lawyer, who refused to be identified, confirmed that he has filed his client?s counter-affidavit.

?I?m in no position to speak. I?m sorry, but you can try to talk to the complainant,? he said.

Melissa said she wanted to get it over with so she could mend her ways.

?It would be better if the case goes to trial so I could face the charges,? she said. ?I?m ready to go to jail if this is the only way to ease the pain I have caused to my husband and family.?

According to Tuvillo?s lawsuit, his wife had her first illicit sexual intercourse with Laron, whom he considered a close family friend, on Nov. 28, 2005 inside his court office.

The complaint stated the respondents? sexual tryst was repeated in the same place on Dec. 3 and 15, 2005, onto October 2007 at the Silver Place hotel beside the Makati City hall.

The suit noted that Laron would also sleep at the Tuvillos? house in Antipolo City and ?almost daily? at the complainant?s condominium unit in Makati from August 2007 to January 2008.