Vhong meets Lee, Raz, Cornejo in judicial dispute resolution
MANILA, Philippines - Actor and television host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro on Tuesday afternoon again met businessman Cedric Lee, Zimmer Raz and model Deniece Cornejo as a Taguig City court held the first of a series of judicial dispute resolution (JDR) sessions in connection with the grave coercion case filed by the actor.
Navarro’s lawyer Alma Mallonga told reporters that the JDR was presided by Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 73 Judge Marilou Tamang. The holding of the JDR was ordered by Taguig MTC Branch 74 Judge Bernard Bernal.
Speaking to reporters after the closed-door JDR session, Mallonga said lawyers are not allowed to attend the JDR.
“Walang kasamang abogado si Vhong pero pinayagan siyang may kasamang isang relative,” said Mallonga.
Mallonga said that although Vhong appeared during the JDR, he remains opposed to the idea of a settlement in the case. Mallonga said the judge has set other dates for the continuation of the JDR as she wants to talk to the other accused in the case. The court has set the next JDR sessions on August 28, September 4 and October 2. Mallonga said Navarro will only appear during the September 4 and October 2 sessions.
“Nag umpisa ang JDR today and the judge listened to Vhong. Hindi pa tinatatapos ng judge ang JDR. The judge wants to still talk to some of the accused. The proceedings in the JDR is confidential. Ang purpose ng JDR under the law ay tignan kung anong aspeto ng kaso ang pwedeng may pagkakaintindihan. Vhong has been consistent from the very beginning. He is not open to settlement but he respects the process and he respects the law,” Mallonga said.
The Taguig MTC Branch 74 earlier said Navarro must attend the mediation hearings to signify his refusal to enter into a settlement with the respondents.
It would be recalled that Navarro filed the grave coercion case against Cornejo, businessman 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, 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.
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 his mauling on January 22 inside Cornejo’s condominium unit at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
Cornejo, Lee and Raz are now all detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology dormitories inside the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.
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