Judge inhibits from Vhong case after granting bail to Lee, Raz, Cornejo

MANILA, Philippines — Taguig Regional Trial Court Judge Paz Esperanza Cortes will no longer preside over the serious illegal detention case filed by television host Vhong Navarro against businessman Cedric Lee.

Cortes of the Taguig court's Branch 271, inhibited from the controversial case Tuesday after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima questioned her recent decision to allow Lee and co-accused, commercial model Deniece Cornejo and martial artist Simeon "Zimmer" Raz, to post a bail of P500,000.

"The panel [of prosecutors assisting Navarro] said they have lost faith and confidence in the ability of the judge to objectively resolve that matter," De Lima said.

In a radio report, Cortes said she believes she fulfilled her role in acting on the bail petitions of the accused, but she does not want put her credibility in the judiciary at risk in deciding to inhibit.

Lawyer Howard Calleja, counsel of the accused, denied rumors that his camp bribed Cortes to allow his clients' temporary freedom.

Disagreeing with the prosecution's petition for Cortes to inhibit, Calleja had said there has to be a "great reason" to do so.

"Buong takbo ng kaso, marami pong desisyon si judge na hindi pabor sa amin. Maraming desisyon na pabor kina Vhong Navarro. Pero narinig mo ba 'kong magreklamo? Narinig mo ba ang kampo namin na nagsabing hindi patas yung judge?" Calleja said in a previous report.