Lawyer: Navarro ‘damaged,’ still getting threats

MANILA, Philippines - Television host and comedian Vhong Navarro may have been discharged from the hospital, but he is still far from well, lawyer Alma Mallonga said yesterday.

She said her client remains emotionally and psychology damaged after the group of model Deniece Cornejo and Cedric Lee reportedly beat him up in Cornejo’s Forbeswood Heights Condominium unit.

“He may be physically recovered but part of the damage that was done to him was psychological, emotional, and even today he still receives threats,” Mallonga said in an interview.

Straight from the hospital, Navarro proceeded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) with bruises on his face and eyes still red. He wore a bulletproof vest inside his plaid shirt.

Instead of sunglasses, Navarro wore large-rimmed spectacles that clearly showed the bruises under his eyes. The bruises were significantly smaller compared to a week ago, when he gave his first interview after the attack.

“He was in high spirits and was very much prepared for this (DOJ hearing),” said Tony Calvento, who had been helping Navarro’s security team.

Calvento, a columnist of tabloids Pilipino Star Ngayon and Pang-Masa, is a friend of Navarro’s manager Chito Roño.

Text twists

Mallonga submitted as evidence a series of text messages from a man, who introduced himself as Lee, repeatedly asking Navarro to pay Cornejo.

The text messages, however, do not show Navarro’s replies to the businessman.

The amount of money was also not stated but Lee insisted that it was payment for moral damages and broken furniture in Cornejo’s condominium unit in Taguig, where Navarro allegedly raped her last Jan. 22.

Navarro earlier claimed that Lee demanded P2 million.

In the text message at 2:47 p.m. on Jan. 23, Lee told Navarro to pay for the broken television and bloodstained sofa. Before ending the message, Lee gave Cornejo’s bank account number.

The photos the NBI took after inspecting Cornejo’s condominium unit showed that her room, although it was not neat, was also not in disarray. 

A television also remained mounted, while the couches were still against the wall.

A source who declined to be named said the text messages were supposed to “instill fear” while asking Navarro to keep silent and cough up money.