Deniece's lawyer: CCTV footage's release a publicity stunt

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyer of model Deniece Cornejo on Thursday belittled the value of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage in the case of TV host Vhong Navarro's mauling.

Lawyer Howard Calleja said the CCTV footage taken at the Forbeswood Heights Condominium at the Bonifacio Global City does not show what really happened on the night of January 22.

"Makikita lang dyan yung sa elevator. It does not show what happened before, during or after," Calleja said.

Navarro has filed several criminal charges, including serious illegal detention, against Cornejo and the group of businessman Cedric Lee.

Cornejo, meanwhile, filed a rape complaint against Navarro before the Taguig City Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday.

Calleja said that the Nationa Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) release of the footage to the media was just a publicity stunt.

The lawyer said that the footage has no value at all until it is accepted by the court.

"It's one of the pieces of evidence. But it has yet to be accepted by the court as evidence," Calleja added.

Aside from Cornejo, Calleja also represents Lee and his sister, Bernice.

Based on his affidavit, Navarro said Lee's group mauled him inside the rented room of Cornejo on the night of January 22.

Navarro claimed that his supposed meeting with Cornejo was a set up and that Lee's group tried to extort money from him.

Meanwhile, Calleja denied reports that Cornejo and Lee would fly to Singapore on February 6.

"Walang katotohanan yan. Di sila aalis. Haharapin lahat nila ang kaso," he said.