Cedric, Deniece can’t leave Phl despite bail – DOJ

MANILA, Philippines - The three accused in the serious illegal detention case filed by comedian-television host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro last January cannot just leave the country despite being granted bail by a Taguig court, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

De Lima cited the rules of court that require persons facing trial to secure court permissions for trips abroad.

She also said the Bureau of Immigration has been alerted on the possible flight of businessman Cedric Lee, model Deniece Cornejo and mixed martial artist Zimmer Raz through a lookout bulleting order earlier issued by her office.

“Even if there was grant of bail, it’s understood that an accused cannot just leave the jurisdiction of the country. They cannot just leave without permission from the court,” she said.

De Lima also stressed that the accused could only be allowed to leave for valid, urgent reasons.

“If they try to leave without necessary permit, they will be stopped at the airport and that could even be a ground for the revocation of their bail,” she warned.

De Lima earlier questioned the decision of a Taguig court granting temporary liberty to the three accused for P500,000 bail bond each.

The three-woman prosecution team of the Department of Justice immediately appealed the ruling and also sought the inhibition of Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 271 Judge Paz Esperanza Cortes from the case.

The panel alleged that the order of the judge was “predetermined or predisposed.”