A Superior Court judge disqualified himself from one part of the government corruption case just after another judge denied motions to have him removed.

Department of Public Health and Social Services director Art San Agustin and Guam Regional Transit Authority board chair Alejo Sablan both charged separately, had filed motions of reconsideration to disqualify Judge Alberto Lamorena from presiding over the underlying case.

Although superior Judge Alberto Tolentino denied the motions, Judge Alberto Lamorena recused himself from the case Thursday due to conflict.

Defense attorney Joaquin “Jay” Arriola told KUAM that the defense will be filing another motion to have Judge Lamorena to be disqualified from San Agustin’s case for the same reasons that he disqualified himself from Sablan’s case.

Judge Vernon Perez has since been assigned to the case.

San Agustin, alongside Chief Health Inspector Masatomo Nadeau is accused of passing health inspection grades for inspections that never occurred at certain Guam Department of Education schools.

Sablan, along with former Guam Regional Transit Authority certifying officer Jennifer Badar, GRTA board members, Inalahan Mayor Anthony Chargualaf and Hagat Mayor Kevin Susuico are accused of approving and improperly using government funds to pay former GRTA interim executive manager Richard Ybanez for a position he was not qualified for.

Ybanez is also charged in this case.