Cedric Lee insists Vhong tried to rape friend: ‘Hindi namin gusto umabot sa ganito ito’

MANILA, Philippines – Businessman Cedric Lee insisted Vhong Navarro attempted to rape Deniece Cornejo at her condominium unit in Taguig City on January 22.

This comes after Vhong, in an interview with ABS-CBN showbiz talk show “Buzz ng Bayan” on Janaury 26, denied rape allegations against him and named Lee and Cornejo as among the people behind his mauling.

RELATED: Vhong Navarro: ‘Hindi ako rapist’

The comedian also claimed Lee’s group forced him to sign a police blotter stating he attempted to rape Cornejo. They also demanded him to pay them Php1 million, Vhong said.

But in an interview with ABS-CBN’s news program “TV Patrol,” Lee said he caught Vhong on top of Cornejo.

The businessman explained he was at Cornejo’s condo unit to fetch her for a night-out that evening. Lee was with male friend Zimmer Raz.

“Upon reaching the door of her condo unit, we heard some screaming inside. So we thought, baka may nagaaway lang. So fortunately the door was unlocked so we were able to go inside,” Lee narrated. “Wala naman tao dun sa sala, tapos dumiretso kami sa bedroom dahil yung bedroom naman nila ay kurtina lang, walang pintuan.”

“Nakita ko dun ang isang lalaking nakahubad na, nakakaba na yung shorts niya, nakapatong kay Deniece. At si Deniece ay nagsisisigaw at nagpapapadyak.”

Lee further explained: “Ang instinct ko is, I grabbed him from the back at hinila ko siya pababa ng kama.”

“Pumapalag siya at nanuntok siya. Pilit niyang sinusuot yung pants niya. Napagtulungan namin siya ni Zimmer. Dahil dalawa naman kami, nahila namin siya palabas ng bedroom. Nahila namin siya sa sala at pilit namin siyang pinipin-down para maaresto siya at madala sa presinto.”

Lee said they tied Vhong up and brought him to the police precinct where he signed the blotter. It was also where Vhong allegedly pleaded Cornejo not to file charges against him as it could affect his career and his family.

“Humihingi siya ng paumahin, wag sana siya i-turn over sa police dahil baka makasira sa career niya at hindi niya alam kung paano ipapaliwanag sa mga anak niya,” Lee said, adding Vhong signed the blotter voluntarily.

RELATED: Vhong Navarro’s ex-wife: ‘We will get through this’

He explained: “Kung sinasabi niyang pinuwersa lang namin siya o tinakot lang namin siya, is he saying that all the police officers inside the headquarters are in cahoots with us?”

Lee also explained that they weren’t trying to extort money from Vhong; rather, they were merely asking for compensation for the damages done during the struggle between the comedian and Lee and his friends.

“Sinasabi ba niyang wala siya sa sarili niya nung pinirmahan niya yan dahil sa sobrang takot? But it contradicts to what he is saying na nakikipag-negotiate siya sa akin doon, from Php200,000 to Php500,000 to Php1 million to Php2 million. How can someone so scared be such a good negotiator,” he said.

The report stated Lee and Cornejo are planning to file rape and libel cases against Vhong.

RELATED: Deniece Cornejo claims innocence on Vhong Navarro beating

“Hindi namin gusto umabot sa ganito ito. Actually, gusto namin maareglo ito nang tahimik. But since pinalaki niya, pinalabas pa niyang kami ang masama, kailangan din po naming depensahan ang sarili namin,” Lee said.

“As much as possible, gusto kong maging pribado ang buhay ko. Ayokong lumaki ng ganito. Hindi ko ito pinili, pinili niya ito,” Cornejo said.

“Pero kung ang pangalan ko na ang nakasalalay dito at ang reputasyon ko, ibang usapan na yun.”