Lawyer reiterates Vhong won't settle with Deniece, Cedric

MANILA, Philippines - Actor Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro is firm on his stand that no settlement is possible in the grave coercion case that he had slapped against model Deniece Cornejo, businessman Cedric Lee, and several others, his lawyer Alma Mallonga said.

Speaking to reporters at the Taguig City Hall of Justice shortly after the continuation  Friday  of the hearing for the petition for bail filed by Cornejo, Lee, and the other accused in the actor’s complaint of serious illegal detention, Mallonga said
Navarro is still considering whether to appear in the third and final mediation of the grave coercion case scheduled on August 4.

Navarro did not appear in the previous two mediation hearings held on June 2 and July 8. The mediation hearings were ordered by the Taguig City Metropolitan Court Branch 74 which is handling the grave coercion complaint.

“There is an ongoing mediation effort. During the last mediation, we articulated the position that Mr. Vhong Navarro need not appear. The mediator said that if Mr. Navarro is not really interested in settlement, he wanted to hear that for himself. We have conveyed the position of the mediator to Mr. Navarro. We are right now discussing the practicality and the legal basis for Mr. Navarro to appear on August 4,” said Mallonga.

“Mr. Navarro has been consistent. What is being mediated is the civil aspect of the grave coercion case and we have said repeatedly that there is no amount of money that could actually compensate for what has been done to him and Mr. Navarro would rather that the court itself determine how much is the damages. This is something very difficult for him to quantify. In any event, we have said that we believe that Mr. Navarro need not appear and I have been duly authorized for the purpose. But given the request of the mediator, we are considering that very, very carefully. So as far as the August 4 mediation is concerned, it has been scheduled and we are still discussing,” Mallonga added.

Mallonga told reporters that she is concerned about the actor’s safety during the mediation hearing should he appear.

“We had raised some concerns during the last mediation hearing. Sabi namin we have some concerns about the security of Mr. Navarro. The last time that he appeared, medyo nagkaron ng gulo. He was the object of some attempts to throw objects at him, sinigawan siya. And during the last mediation, there were some people who appeared who have nothing to do with the mediation. Specifically, the lola was there. She was not supposed to be there. She has no personality to appear there. And the mediator said this would be addressed,” she said.

“During the last hearing, ininsulto rin ang aming kliyente ni Mr. Cedric Lee at sinabi niyang walang settlement. We raised these to the mediator. In any event, the position of the mediator is we give this one more chance.  We will see what is going to happen,” she added.

The Taguig MTC Branch 74 earlier said Navarro must attend the mediation hearing to signify his refusal to enter into a settlement with the respondents.

Navarro filed the grave coercion case against Cornejo, Lee, and six others before the court in connection with the serious illegal detention case he had also filed against them.

Also facing the charge of grave coercion are Cedric’s sister Bernice Lee, Zimmer Raz, Jose Paulo “JP” Gregorio Calma, Ferdinand Guerrero and Jed Fernandez. Calma left the country last April 10.

Cornejo and Bernice earlier pleaded not guilty to the grave coercion charge while Fernandez was ordered arrested by the court for failing to show up for his arraignment. The court meanwhile entered not guilty pleas for the grave coercion charge for Cedric and Raz during their arraignment.

After the June 2 mediation, Mallonga said she had legal concerns on Navarro’s appearance during the mediation. The mediation, she said, was court mandated and is part of the legal process.

Mallonga said Navarro is bent on pursuing the grave coercion case against Cornejo, Cedric and the other accused. Mallonga said Navarro’s lawyers are also looking at the legal implications of the mediation of the grave coercion case on the serious illegal detention case filed by the actor against the same accused before the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 271.

Cornejo, Cedric and the other accused were slapped by Navarro with grave coercion charges in connection with the TV host's mauling on January 22 inside Cornejo’s condominium unit at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Cornejo is still under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at Camp Crame after surrendering to PNP chief Alan Purisima. Bernice and Fernandez meanwhile had earlier posted bail at P12,000 each. Cedric and Raz are under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Meanwhile, Mallonga also told reporters that another suspect in the actor’s mauling and serious illegal detention has been identified as Edgardo Sampana.

“We have provided his name and address to the Department of Justice as that preliminary investigation may be conducted and an amended information be filed with the court,” said Mallonga.

Navarro’s lawyers presented as their witness in Friday’s hearing Rommel Ramirez, National Bureau of Investigation National Capital Region special investigator. Mallonga however declined to say what Ramirez’ testimony was about, saying she could not talk about the hearing because of the court's gag order.

Ramirez earlier told reporters that not one piece of furniture or appliance inside the Forbeswood Heights condominium unit occupied by Cornejo was destroyed.

Lee earlier admitted that he had asked P1 million from Navarro to cover the cost of furniture and appliances destroyed when the former's group mauled and arrested the actor for allegedly attempting to rape Cornejo.