Cedric, Deniece ordered arrested

MANILA, Philippines - They conspired to beat their victim black and blue, calling it “Oplan Bugbog.”

This is the story narrated by one of the accused in the beating of comedian and television host Vhong Navarro last January. The accused has turned state witness against businessman Cedric Lee, model Deniece Cornejo and three others, who were ordered arrested yesterday by the Taguig Regional Trial Court.

No bail was recommended for the five.

Lee’s sister Bernice was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation at the house in Greenhills West, San Juan where she lives with her brother shortly after 6 p.m. yesterday. Cedric was not home.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed yesterday that one of the accused in the case has turned state witness after spilling the beans on the incident.

De Lima said the Taguig RTC Branch 271 ordered the arrest of Lee, Cornejo, mixed martial artist Zimmer Raz, Ferdinand Guerrero and Jed Fernandez after upholding the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s finding of probable cause in the charges against them.

The offense charged – serious illegal detention with absorbed charges of serious physical injuries, grave threats and illegal arrest – is non-bailable, which means the five accused would have to be detained pending trial.

Cornejo and Fernandez had earlier posted bail of P12,000 each before the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court on grave coercion charges.

Two others who were named accused in the case filed by the DOJ last April 10 – Lee’s sister Bernice and JP Calma – were not included in the arrest warrant.

De Lima said the judge was not yet done in assessing the DOJ’s findings.

Navarro’s lawyer Alma Mallonga said she was surprised why the court only issued five arrest warrants.

“We are still trying to find an answer. Even the clerk of court would not comment,” Mallonga, who is out of the country, told The STAR.

All seven accused were also charged with a separate case for grave coercion. Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 74 Judge Bernardo Bernal earlier issued an arrest warrant on this bailable offense.

Evident premeditation

De Lima refused to identify the male accused who has turned state witness due to “serious security concerns” but said he is under the custody of the DOJ’s witness protection program (WPP) after submitting a sworn affidavit detailing how the incident was planned and carried out.

“This accused narrated the entire incident. He said there was a plan made by their group which they called ‘Oplan Bugbog’,” De Lima told reporters.

The DOJ chief said the statement of the witness bolstered the findings of the DOJ that there was “evident premeditation and conspiracy” in the alleged crime committed.

De Lima said the accused volunteered to become a state witness.

“He was very scared when he approached us. He was crying all the while. His statement is being assessed by the WPP,” she said.

Veteran journalist and Pilipino STAR Ngayon columnist Tony Calvento helped the witness reach De Lima.