Bail grant 'big leap' to Cedric Lee, Cornejo acquittal - lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Howard Calleja is confident businessman Cedric Lee and his friend Zimmer Raz and Deniece Cornejo will be acquitted from the serious illegal detention and grave coercion charges filed by TV host Vhong Navarro.

"This is one big leap towards the innocence and acquittal of our client but it is not yet time to be entirely glad. We are happy but marami pa hong dadaanan," Calleja said at a press conference in San Juan City on Wednesday.

Lee, Raz, and model Deniece Cornejo are facing serious illegal detention and grave coercion charges filed by TV host and actor Vhong Navarro, who accused Lee and his companions of mauling him inside a condominium unit in Taguig City on the night of January 22.

During the press conference, Calleja belittled the new CCTV footage that will be presented to court by Navarro's legal counsels, which allegedly shows that the attack on the TV host was planned by Lee's group.

"Sa akin simple lang, nagsabi sila na ito ho eh makakapagpalakas ng aming ebidensya. Meron silang bagong CCTV. Eh kung sinabi mong magpapalakas para mo nang inamin na mahina ang ebidensya mo dahil kailangan mo pa ng ebidensya para palakasin," he said.

"As I've said, kung nakita tayong magkasama, hindi ibig sabihin meron tayong pinagplanuhan," Calleja added.

Meanwhile, Calleja said insinuations that bribery was the reason behind the granting of bail for his clients was unfair.

"Sa akin lang it is unfair to make that accusation if the persons doing those accusation were not even there during trial. It is also unfair to say that if you haven't read the entire 73-page decision."

After the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 271 approved the petition of Calleja's clients to post bail, suspicions of bribery in the case spread in social media.

"Sana whatever comments or reactions people will make, although we respect their comments and their opinions, sana it is based on evidence or based on facts. Mahirap naman magsalita na 'di mo nalalaman. Marinig mo lang ang ganyang decision ito na agad ang feeling mo. Although we respect that but sana naman walang maanghang na salita na nakakasakit," Calleja said.