Deniece files rape case vs Vhong

MANILA, Philippines - From being initially a forgiving victim of a rape attempt, model Deniece Cornejo was a picture of an anguished victim of sexual assault yesterday as she filed rape charges against her alleged rapist, actor and television host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro.

Accompanied by her lawyers Howard Calleja and Maria Concepcion Aquino, Cornejo filed her 10-page complaint affidavit with Taguig City Assistant Prosecutor Laarni Fabella.

Cornejo’s camp is accusing Navarro of violating Republic Act 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children Law.

Calleja clarified that they had never considered filing a lighter case of attempted rape against Navarro.

“We never said attempted rape. As I said, whatever facts were presented to us, what they said before was the interpretation of a layman, not a lawyer. But the facts presented to us, as lawyers, clearly constitute the crime of rape,” Calleja said.

Aquino said they have submitted all the evidence for the appreciation of the investigating body. She declined to give details of the complaint.

But for National Bureau of Investigation-assistant regional director for National Capital Region Vicente de Guzman III, it would have been impossible for Navarro to rape Cornejo, based on recordings from CCTV cameras in the Forbeswood condominium in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, where the alleged rape took place on Jan. 22.

Calleja said, however, the CCTV footage now in the possession of the NBI should debunk Navarro’s claim that businessman Cedric Lee arrived ahead of the actor at Cornejo’s unit on the second floor of the condominium.

“He said that when he entered the condominium, Mr. Cedric Lee was already inside. But the CCTV clearly shows that Mr. Vhong Navarro arrived ahead of Mr. Cedric Lee. Clearly, we can see here who’s telling the truth and who’s not,” Calleja said.

“CCTV as evidence can only show you part of the story. We have here eyewitnesses that can tell the whole story. We are not even sure if the CCTV is clear. We are not in possession of it. The whole story is what is narrated by our witnesses and by the true victim of the case, Miss Deniece Cornejo,” he added.

For her part, Aquino said there was no pressure on Cornejo to file the rape case against Navarro.

“You don’t expect her to file it immediately because she went through trauma and psychological issues,” she said.

Calleja also stressed that Cornejo and all those charged by the NBI in connection with Navarro’s alleged beating would remain in the country to face the charges.

The NBI on Tuesday filed with the DOJ a string of charges against Cornejo, Lee, his sister Bernice, one Ferdinand Guerrero, Zimmer Rance, and a certain Mike in connection with the beating of Navarro. The charges include the non-bailable offense of serious illegal detention, as well as serious physical injury, unlawful arrest and grave coercion, among others.

Taguig City Chief Prosecutor Archimedes Manabat said an investigating prosecutor would be assigned to handle the preliminary investigation of the rape complaint by next week.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the rape complaint of Cornejo might be transferred to the DOJ.

Once probable cause is established by investigating prosecutors after a preliminary investigation, a trial court can order the arrest – without bail – of the respondents. 

Lookout bulletin

Immigration authorities may also be put on alert for possible departure of Lee, Cornejo and the others facing criminal charges for beating Navarro, De Lima said.

De Lima said she plans to issue a lookout bulletin order (LBO) against the group following reports Lee and Cornejo had booked a flight to Singapore for Feb. 6 at 7:55 a.m. on Philippine Airlines flight PR 503. The flight reservation was reportedly done online last Monday, and was not yet paid.

“I am just waiting for a formal letter-request from either Vhong Navarro’s lawyers or the NBI for issuance of LBO vs Cedric Lee et al,” she told reporters in a text message.

She said an LBO is needed because Lee and Cornejo are now subjects of criminal charges undergoing preliminary investigation in the DOJ.

“Since there is now a case for PI, it will frustrate the ends of justice if Cedric Lee et al are able to flee Philippine’s jurisdiction at this point,” she said.

BI chief Siegfred Mison said they are awaiting official instruction from De Lima for the inclusion of the respondents’ names in the LBO database. He clarified that an LBO cannot stop Lee or any of his companions from leaving the country. A respondent in a criminal case may only be prevented from leaving the country through a hold departure order or watchlist order issued by a trial court. Edu Punay, Aie Balagtas-See, Cecille Suerte Felipe