CA inutos kasuhan ng rape, acts of lasciviousness si Vhong Navarro
MANILA, Philippines — Inutusan ng Court of Appeals (CA) ang Office of the City Prosecutor of Taguig City na pakasuhan na ng rape at acts of lasciviousness ang aktor na si Vhong Navarro matapos niya diumano abusuhin ang modelong si Deniece Milinette Cornejo noong 2014.
Ito ang ibinahagi ng 14th Division ng CA sa isang 26-pahinang desisyong pinetsahang ika-21 ng Hulyo na siyang nagbabaliktad at nagsasantabi sa mga resolusyon ng Department of Justice noong April 2018 at July 2020.
"The Office of the City Prosecutor of Taguig City is thus DIRECTED to file Informations against Ferdinand 'Vhong' H. Navarro for: (1) Rape by Sexual Intercourse under Article 266-A (1) of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 8353; and (2) Acts of Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code," ayon sa desisyon.
"It was erroneous for the DOJ to deny Cornejo’s petition for review on the ground that her statements in the complaint-affidavits are inconsistent and incredible. In this regard, it bears to stress that the determination of probable cause does not depend on the validity or merits of a party’s accusation or defense or on the admissibility or veracity of testimonies presented."
Ayon pa sa desisyong sinulat ni CA Associate Justice Florencio Mamauag Jr., sa trial proper na raw dapat maisulat kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo pagdating sa kaso.
Sinang-ayunan naman nina Associate Justices Victoria Isabel Paredes at Mary Charlene Hernandez-Azura ang desisyon.
Taong 2018 nang mapagdesisyonan ng isang korte sa Taguig na guilty sina Cornejo, negosyanteng si Cedric Lee atbp. ng "grave coercion" kaugnay ng pag-atake kay Vhong matapos daw pwersahin ang huling umaming tinangka niyang halayin ang modelo.
Una nang itinanggi ni Vhong, isang komedyante at host ng "It's Showtime," na ni-rape niya ang complainant noong 2009 sa loob ng kanyang sasakyan.
Sa kabila nito, aminado siyang kilala niya si Cornejo bilang stunt double ng aktres na si Bea Alonzo para sa palabas na "I Love Betty La Fea."
"Ultimately, it falls upon the trial court to determine who between Navarro and Cornejo speaks the truth. Cornejo decries attempted rape on the night of January 22, 2014 while Navarro denies any wrongdoing on his part. We reiterate once more that the preliminary investigation is not the proper venue to rule on the respondent’s guilt or innocence," sabi pa ng desisyon.
"Likewise, whether the other pieces of documentary or electronic evidence presented at the preliminary investigation level is enough to impeach the credibility of
the alleged rape victim so as to exculpate the respondent of the crime imputed against him is a matter best left to the scrutiny of the trial court."
Enero 2014 lang nang sabihin ni Howard Calleja, abogado nina Lee at Cornejo, na maaaring gamiting ebidensya laban kay Vhong ang security footage ng Forbeswood Heights condominium laban sa aktor. Aniya, mapatutunayan daw nitong sinet-up ang kanyang kliyente.
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